A person is a person by any other name. But some names are disrespectful and inappropriate.

As part of immigration reform, we need media outlets to reframe people as "undocumented" rather than "illegal". Now is the time to shift our language to be more respectful and in line with American principles of opportunity and respect. Media outlets are key in this shift to drop the "i" word when referring to people. I want our young daughter to grow up respecting all members of our community as people with value.

Stop the use of the term illegal when referring to human beings.

Stop using the modifier "illegal" to describe an undocumented person. And while we are at it, eliminate "alien" as it sounds like someone from "outer space"

The immigration reform bill recently introduced by the Senate made no specific provisions for LGBT citizens in binational relationships - our LGBT families were EXCLUDED and FORGOTTEN! Presently, the Federal Government recognizes only marriages between a man and a woman. As a result, same-sex couples are “legal strangers” in the eyes of the US government. To remedy the injustices same-sex binational couples endure – discrimination, separation and exile – Congress must include our LGBT families as they address Immigration Reform! Senator Leahy has promised that he will introduce the Uniting American Families Act as an amendment to address the omission of LGBT families. As of today, Senator Dianne Feinstein has not taken a public position on whether she will support the amendment!

A call for responsible journalism

As an American-born Latina, I find it highly offensive to hear "illegal" to describe someone's race, in the media, by government officials and others that do not realize the impact of their words. You never hear undocumented immigrants described as "Latino-Americans" or "Chinese-Americans"—they are always identified by their immigration status rather than their actual ethnicity.

Except in direct quotations, do not use the terms illegal alien, an illegal, illegals, undocumented aliens or undocumented workers. Use the unmodified word immigrant only for people who have entered the U.S. lawfully. Do not describe people as violating immigration laws without attribution. If possible, specify how someone entered the country illegally and from where. Crossed the border? Overstayed a visa? What nationality?

Join Central Florida Labor Council for Latin American Advancement Chapter in calling for a comprehensive plan to reform our ailing immigration system. Dear President,Congress, and Senate : Our immigration system isn’t working. It’s failing the “DREAMers.” It’s failing legal immigrants. It’s failing keeping and having families together. And it’s time we changed it. This isn’t something we can try to fix one piece at a time. I demand a comprehensive immigration reform package that works for everyone.

I received a response to a letter I wrote to President Barack Obama in 2010, concerning the immigrant visa application of my husband, Roberto Cerda Mendez, who is in Mexico. When I initially wrote to the President, I was in search of help in clearing out my husband’s case. He was unjustly accused of reentering or attempting to reenter the U. S. illegally, which never occurred, and with that allegation, he was denied the opportunity to waive the 10 year penalty. After researching and trying to find a way to clear this matter, my sister advised me to request my husband’s FOIA records. After months of awaiting a response, I finally received an encouraging response. There are no records that show that my husband was ever apprehended by any immigration or border patrol official. Therefore, with this I can prove that what was stated by the consular officer that interviewed him at the U. S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez on September 3, 2009, is false. However, to my disappointment, the officer affirms that my husband stated that he entered, departed, and re-entered the U.S. without inspection under oath. So pretty much there is nothing that can be done although this is plain false. Please help me with this matter. It’s not morally correct for our family to be paying for a consular officer’s mistake and for the government to let him get away with it. I want my husband back in Houston, Texas with me and our children.

For same-sex binational families like mine, America's immigration system tears families apart. Gay and lesbian Americans cannot sponsor their husbands and wives from other countries for immigration and green cards. Until DOMA, Defense of Marriage is gone, UAFA, Uniting American Families Act is our solution. Please support this legislation! Thanks

Every person who would seem to fall under the "column" of LGBTQ are in fact 100% human and deserve 100% equality when it comes to rights and opportunities under the law. Sexual orientation should have nothing to do with any of the considerations or provisions of the Uniting American Families Act or any other such legislation. Senator Feinstein, during a recent exchange in the political arena, you mentioned your proximity to Harvey Milk at the time of his assassination, and the devastating results of the combination of gun violence with prejudice against a politician with an outspoken stance and gay identity. While you have addressed the gun violence aspect of this issue, you should also recognize the volatility of the LGBTQ side of the issue. You, Senator Feinstein, of all people, should know as well as anyone, from your own firsthand accounts, still fresh in your memory, still affecting how you see things in the grander political landscape… you should know how important language and political perception is when it comes to the sexual orientation of those around you and how they are perceived and treated by others. Those of us who are compassionate and seek justice as it protects rights through the rule of law should take a stand and say so out loud, and our legislators who have the time, resources & wherewithal to fight for such rights should absolutely do so on behalf of those who cannot or are afraid for their own health or welfare to try to stand up and speak for themselves on such issues. This is an issue of social and cultural acceptance as well as a matter of language in a legal document. We, the signers of this petition, urge you, Senator Feinstein, to take a stand for the LGBTQ community and make certain that the rights everyone be addressed in such important legislation.