National
Holder halts deportation for foreign national in civil union
Order could have implications for bi-national same-sex couples
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder (Blade photo by Michael Key)
An order to vacate from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder halting the deportation of a foreign national in a civil union may be sign of hope for bi-national same-sex couples in the United States who are facing separation.
In the decision, dated April 26, Holder remands back to the Board of Immigration Appeals the case of Paul Wilson Dorman — a New Jersey man who’s apparently seeking residency in the United States through his partner — to reassess a previous petition that was denied based on the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriage. The order was made public Thursday.
“In the exercise of my review authority under that regulation, and upon consideration of the record in this case, I direct that the order of the Board be vacated and that this matter be remanded to the Board to make such findings as may be necessary to determine whether and how the constitutionality of DOMA is presented in this case,” Holder writes.
Holder asks the Board of Immigration Appeals to clarify questions not addressed in the initial proceeding, such whether the petitioner’s civil union with his partner makes him eligible as a “spouse” under New Jersey law and the Immigration and Nationality Act as well as whether Dorman can establish exceptional and unusual hardship to qualify for relief.
The details of the Dorman case weren’t immediately known, such when his partner filed the petition, when the Board of Immigration appeals initially rejected the application or when any deportation as a result of the case is expected to proceed. Nor was it clear why Holder decided to intervene in this case when other foreign nationals in same-sex relationships are faced with potential deportation.
Tracy Schmaler, a Justice Department spokesperson, said the action isn’t the first time in history that an attorney general has remanded a case back to Board of Immigration Appeals for reconsideration.
“By way of history, over the years, attorneys general in several administrations have exercised their review authority in immigration cases,” Schmaler said. “Since 1996, attorneys general have reviewed 30 cases involving a variety of immigration law issues.”
Lavi Soloway, an attorney with Masliah & Soloway PC in New York who handles immigration cases, said the order from Holder could be a sign that the Obama administration is looking for a way to help same-sex bi-national couples who are barred from the marriage-based immigration process because of DOMA.
“There isn’t yet a final decision that could be applicable, but on the other hand, the action by the attorney general to vacate the decision would now suggest that it would be appropriate to adjourn any deportation proceedings where there are similar issues at stake,” Soloway said.
Steve Ralls, spokesperson for Immigration Equality, said the implications of the order to vacate remains unclear, but could indicate that the Obama administration to moving to intercede on their behalf.
“It appears to be a positive first step that, I think, is based at least in part on the congressional pressure that has been placed on DOJ around DOMA and the issue of bi-national couples,” Ralls said.
Ralls was referring to letters that member of Congress sent to the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security urging officials to stop the deportations of foreign nationals in legally recognized same-sex marriages. Last month, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and 11 other senators in one letter, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and 47 other House members in another letter, asked the Obama administration to make the change.
“I think it’s a positive sign that the attorney general himself decided to intervene to take this step,” Ralls continued. “We’re hopeful that it will then be replicated in other cases for couples who are facing separation, but I think it’s a little too early to know for sure that’s going to be the case.”
Soloway, who’s representing another bi-national same-sex couple who are legally married and also living in New Jersey, said he plans to use the order to help defend his clients who face possible separation because of DOMA.
Josh Vandiver, a U.S. citizen, and Henry Velandia, a professional dancer from Venezuela, were legally married in Connecticut last year. Velandia was placed into removal proceedings in 2009 when his employment-based immigration case was denied. Last summer, Vandiver filed an I-130 marriage-based green card petition for Velandia, but it was denied in January on the sole basis of DOMA.
On Friday, Velandia is set to appear in court for a final hearing before an immigration judge who will decide whether to deport him. If deportation is ordered, Velandia will be barred from returning to the United States for the next 10 years.
On the day of the court proceedings, various grassroots-based LGBT advocacy groups — including Courage Campaign, GetEQUAL, Garden State Equality, and the Immigration Equality Action Fund — plan to rally at the Newark Immigration Court to call on Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to halt deportations of foreign nationals in legal same-same-sex marriages, such as the separation Vandiver and Velandia may be facing.
Soloway said he intends to bring the Holder order to the attention of the judge in an attempt to adjourn proceedings on any decision to deport Velandia.
“The implication could be that we stop, or at least slow down, deportation proceedings in many, if not most, of the lesbian and gay couples, like Josh and Henry — and that’s why tomorrow we’re going to go into court and ask the judge to do just that on the basis of the attorney general’s action here today,” Soloway said.
Federal Government
UPenn erases Lia Thomas’s records as part of settlement with White House
University agreed to ban trans women from women’s sports teams
In a settlement with the Trump-Vance administration announced on Tuesday, the University of Pennsylvania will ban transgender athletes from competing and erase swimming records set by transgender former student Lia Thomas.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights found the university in violation of Title IX, the federal rights law barring sex based discrimination in educational institutions, by “permitting males to compete in women’s intercollegiate athletics and to occupy women-only intimate facilities.”
The statement issued by University of Pennsylvania President J. Larry Jameson highlighted how the law’s interpretation was changed substantially under President Donald Trump’s second term.
“The Department of Education OCR investigated the participation of one transgender athlete on the women’s swimming team three years ago, during the 2021-2022 swim season,” he wrote. “At that time, Penn was in compliance with NCAA eligibility rules and Title IX as then interpreted.”
Jameson continued, “Penn has always followed — and continues to follow — Title IX and the applicable policy of the NCAA regarding transgender athletes. NCAA eligibility rules changed in February 2025 with Executive Orders 14168 and 14201 and Penn will continue to adhere to these new rules.”
Writing that “we acknowledge that some student-athletes were disadvantaged by these rules” in place while Thomas was allowed to compete, the university president added, “We recognize this and will apologize to those who experienced a competitive disadvantage or experienced anxiety because of the policies in effect at the time.”
“Today’s resolution agreement with UPenn is yet another example of the Trump effect in action,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. “Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, UPenn has agreed both to apologize for its past Title IX violations and to ensure that women’s sports are protected at the university for future generations of female athletes.”
Under former President Joe Biden, the department’s Office of Civil Rights sought to protect against anti-LGBTQ discrimination in education, bringing investigations and enforcement actions in cases where school officials might, for example, require trans students to use restrooms and facilities consistent with their birth sex or fail to respond to peer harassment over their gender identity.
Much of the legal reasoning behind the Biden-Harris administration’s positions extended from the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court case Bostock v. Clayton County, which found that sex-based discrimination includes that which is based on sexual orientation or gender identity under Title VII rules covering employment practices.
The Trump-Vance administration last week put the state of California on notice that its trans athlete policies were, or once were, in violation of Title IX, which comes amid the ongoing battle with Maine over the same issue.
New York
Two teens shot steps from Stonewall Inn after NYC Pride parade
One of the victims remains in critical condition
On Sunday night, following the annual NYC Pride March, two girls were shot in Sheridan Square, feet away from the historic Stonewall Inn.
According to an NYPD report, the two girls, aged 16 and 17, were shot around 10:15 p.m. as Pride festivities began to wind down. The 16-year-old was struck in the head and, according to police sources, is said to be in critical condition, while the 17-year-old was said to be in stable condition.
The Washington Blade confirmed with the NYPD the details from the police reports and learned no arrests had been made as of noon Monday.
The shooting took place in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, mere feet away from the most famous gay bar in the city — if not the world — the Stonewall Inn. Earlier that day, hundreds of thousands of people marched down Christopher Street to celebrate 55 years of LGBTQ people standing up for their rights.
In June 1969, after police raided the Stonewall Inn, members of the LGBTQ community pushed back, sparking what became known as the Stonewall riots. Over the course of two days, LGBTQ New Yorkers protested the discriminatory policing of queer spaces across the city and mobilized to speak out — and throw bottles if need be — at officers attempting to suppress their existence.
The following year, LGBTQ people returned to the Stonewall Inn and marched through the same streets where queer New Yorkers had been arrested, marking the first “Gay Pride March” in history and declaring that LGBTQ people were not going anywhere.
New York State Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, whose district includes Greenwich Village, took to social media to comment on the shooting.
“After decades of peaceful Pride celebrations — this year gun fire and two people shot near the Stonewall Inn is a reminder that gun violence is everywhere,” the lesbian lawmaker said on X. “Guns are a problem despite the NRA BS.”
New York
Zohran Mamdani participates in NYC Pride parade
Mayoral candidate has detailed LGBTQ rights platform
Zohran Mamdani, the candidate for mayor of New York City who pulled a surprise victory in the primary contest last week, walked in the city’s Pride parade on Sunday.
The Democratic Socialist and New York State Assembly member published photos on social media with New York Attorney General Letitia James, telling followers it was “a joy to march in NYC Pride with the people’s champ” and to “see so many friends on this gorgeous day.”
“Happy Pride NYC,” he wrote, adding a rainbow emoji.
Mamdani’s platform includes a detailed plan for LGBTQ people who “across the United States are facing an increasingly hostile political environment.”
His campaign website explains: “New York City must be a refuge for LGBTQIA+ people, but private institutions in our own city have already started capitulating to Trump’s assault on trans rights.
“Meanwhile, the cost of living crisis confronting working class people across the city hits the LGBTQIA+ community particularly hard, with higher rates of unemployment and homelessness than the rest of the city.”
“The Mamdani administration will protect LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers by expanding and protecting gender-affirming care citywide, making NYC an LGBTQIA+ sanctuary city, and creating the Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs.”
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