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Wilton Manors, Florida Puts Resolution Supporting UAFA on Agenda

Matthew Rush at the Stonewall Street Festival ...
Stonewall festival Wilton Manners

Melanie Nathan 7-16-10

UAFA Supportive Resolution On  Wilton Manors Council Agenda for Agenda for July 27 – 2010

The City of Wilton Manors is approximately two square miles in area and is located in Broward County, Florida, just north of downtown Fort Lauderdale.  Wilton Manors is often referred to as the “Island City” because its boundaries primarily follow the North and South Forks of the Middle River. Ideally located within minutes of the beach and downtown Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors is quickly becoming the “place to be” in South Florida.

The City is nearly 100% built-out and embraces the vision of a “sustainable urban village.”   But what use would such be without recognizing that every American has an equal right to live in happiness with the person of their choice, whether of the same gender or not!

A UAFA Activist and Florida resident approached the Mayor of the small town, Mayor Gary Resnick, and told him that he had been prevented from living in this this gorgeous town with the love of his life because the federal government would not allow him to sponsor his beloved for a green card, they were of the same-sex.

Unfortunately the resident, Ken, lost his relationship because the couple was unable to sustain the distance for, inter alia, financial and medical reasons.

But this did not stop the American bi-national from becoming his own force in the fight for all the other binational same-sex couples.  He approached the Mayor and today I received this message:

Hi Mel,

I have been after Wilton Manors  to pass this UAFA resolution. I am so happy. This is what I got from the Mayor today. This makes my weekend !

Thank you for all you do!

“Hi Ken

Thank you for your message. Our resolution supporting this Bill will be on our July 27, agenda. If you like, you could come to the Commission Meeting, 7 pm, and in the hearing from the public portion, voice your support for this Bill and I’ll be happy to recognize you. Thanks again.

Gary Resnick
Mayor”

The website for the town asserts  “Diversity is the strength of Wilton Manors.  Children from many different ethnic backgrounds attend Wilton Manors Elementary School; the City’s Police Department employs African-American, Haitian, and Hispanic officers; and the City Commission includes openly gay elected officials.  Wilton Manors is ideally located, poised for redevelopment, and encourages diversity.  Come and join us in the “Island City” and be a part of a diverse “sustainable urban village”.

So thank you Mr. Mayor Gary Resnick – we trust that your Council will support the resolution for the passage by the Federal Government of The Uniting American Families Act and / or its inclusion in Comprehensive Immigration reform, that which impacts one of the most pervasive forms of inequality in the United States of America and hence your beautiful town – which one day I hope to visit.

A native of New Jersey, Mayor Gary Resnick was first elected to the City Commission in March 1998. In March 2000, the City Commission unanimously selected him as Vice Mayor. Gary was re-elected to the Commission in March 2002 and in March 2006, prior to being elected Mayor in November 2008.  Mayor Resnick graduated from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Economics and received his Juris Doctor with honors from Rutgers University School of Law .

follow Mel on twitter @oblogdeeoblogda

Note:  If you are interested in approaching our Town for a Supportive resolution contact Amos Lim at www.Out4Immigration.org

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