don't make me choose between family members!

This is extremely important though I am not sure how many votes it would get in this section -- People seem to separate immigration from LGBT in their heads even though in this case, it is tied.
If we repeal DOMA, would this be automatic?

I support this. My fiancé is German, and we've waited and suffered long enough to be together, though we do have a route we can take to make that a reality. I hate to think what a same sex couple in our situation must go through.

I support this, I am French and my partner is American. We would love to live together! But we are a same sex couple, so it's legally not possible for us to live in the same country more than 3 months at a time. We have been together for 3 years. It's been 3 years now that we travel back and forth between France and USA.
Sometimes we have to spend several months without seing each other. It's painful.
I would love to be legally partnered.

I support this. There should be no discrimination between same sex immigration as there is between opposite sex immigration. If we as a country have able, willing, committed people who want to work and are in monogomous relationships, why are we making it difficult for them? We should embrace their committments and allow them the same rights that we have committed to.

Thanks for all your comments.  Truth be told, this is an immigration issue, a LGBT issue as well as a civil rights issue. 

Right now, we are saying that a queer (LGBTIQ) American does not have the same rights as his heterosexual conterpart.  This is discrimination, plain and simple. 

We are not asking for a special line, we are just asking for the same chance to stand in line with the other heterosexual binational couples who have to stand in line at the ICE offices to proof that their relationship is genuine.  Right now, we are not even allowed to stand in line.

With regards to your question about DOMA - the truth of the matter is that while repealing DOMA might help, it is important to note that Immigration Laws still use the language or word "MARRIAGE" and unless they have inclusive language to say "Marriage and/or civil union, domestic partners" or properly defined what LGBT relationship is - it will be up to the "authorities" to determine.

Remember, during the last election, John McCain continues to maintain that LGBT relationship can easily be protected with a simple legal contract, there is no need for federal rights or state rights to protect them... so basically the rules are murky unless DOMA is overturned and President-elect Obama fulfil his promise to ensure that LGBT couples enjoy equal rights and benefits at the federal levels as heterosexual couples (all 1100+ of them)

I am gay and undocumented only because we don't have equal immigration rights for same-sex couples.

Thanks for answering my questions about DOMA. This is closer to my heart than the DREAM Act, I'll write and blog about this.

Could this possibly be the most discriminated against group ever? Gay and an immigrant or in love with one? God bless you. I voted!

Pls vote! stop the discrimination. Its about time to bring love ones together. I myself is in binational relationship. I cant wait to start my new life and family with my partner.

Please help those united in love but separated by international borders.

This is a very important problem to address. There are many couples who are living here but one of them only has temporary status in the U.S. There lives together are threatened. Their happiness constantly under threat. Since gay or lesbian couples cannot sponsor each other they will often go to extraordinary lengths in order to stay together. Many end up having to either emmigrate to the other person's country (if that is an option) or try to find exile in a sympathetic 3rd country. Some couples try to stay together over long distances. While other cannot manage any of the other options, they must end their relationship.

I am in such as bi-national relationship. We know that we want to be with each other forever. My partner was here under a student visa. I had the option of moving back to the U.K. where I was born but left as a child. There I could have sponsored my partner easily as on of the rights given to same-sex civil unions. I would still have to leave my adopted country of 39 years and to leave my home, my friends and my sister in order to remain in my relationship. While our problem ended when my partner gained entry by winning the Diversity Visa Lottery, most others in our situation are not as fortunate.

Many countries are beginning to grant same-sex partners the rights to sponsor the other to immigrate. While a Federal civil unions here would offer the same option it may not be achievable for a long time. By granting immigration rights to same-sex committed couples, you take away the problem for those who are threatened with deportation and separation.

This issue is a right already given to all other citizens in the U.S. what justification can there be for stripping gay and lesbians of this option for their partners. We are not asking for special treatment. We want to be granted what is promised to us in the constitution and imbeded in the ideals of our society, equal treatment and the pursuit of our happiness.

Yes, this is all too common.  I live in Australia so I can be with my love.

I was unaware that you could comment upon this topic in two venues, and did so in the other thread for this topic. I am married to a foreign national, but my situation is not overwhelming since I have the good fortune to have loved /partnered and now married to a Canadian for 32 years and for us to have a six year old son to whom we have given the gift of both nationalities.I am executive director of a non-profit international organization that deals with this issue as well.

i want this to pass so bad!!!!

To some, this might appear to be a narrow issue that does not affect many people.  But more than almost any other form of anti-gay governmental discrimination, these unequal immigration policies force Americans like me into an incredible cruel choice: my partner or my country. 

More than two years ago, I left behind my career, a company I co-founded, my dogs of 15 years, my home, my friends, my family -- everything -- just to be with my partner in Brazil.

I would urge each and every one of you considering this issue for the first time to just imagine how horribly painful such a choice would be for you. I think you will agree that this simple change in the law, one of fairness and equality, is one that the Obama administration should give high priority.

(FYI, candidate Barack Obama promised his support for equal immigration rights and the Uniting American Families Act.)

I support this.  I'm an American woman who married a British woman in Canada 4 1/2 years ago.  Our marriage is one that the US refuses to recognise for immigration purposes.  Therefore, I was forced to move to the UK 3 years ago in order for us to be together.  If we were a heterosexual couple married in Canada, I would have had no problem sponsoring my spouse for immigration purposes.

My oldest daughter is pregnant with my first grandchild, due in January.  My wife and I would at least like to have the choice to live in the US where I could be closer to him as he grows up.

Bythe way, it's pretty sad when countries like Nepal (and others that the US typically view as less "progressive in the civil rights arena") where their version of the Supreme Court recently ordered the country to legalise same sex marriages, is ahead of the US in recognising civil rights of all groups.  My wife recently wrote an article for a magazine on this issue and the list of countries that do recognise same sex relationships for immigration purposes is staggering when compared to that supposed beacon of human rights - the US. 

I'm quite embarrassed by the US and hope that Obama is capable of restoring a shine to the country's reputation that is become so tarnished over the past 8 years.

My partner of 5+ years and I are one of over 35,000 estimated same-sex binational couples who are denied the right to build a life together in this country.  We live constantly with the fear of having to choose between separation -- NOT an option -- and living in exile in order to stay together.  All I want is the same right enjoyed by heterosexual U.S. citizens to sponsor the person I've chosen to spend my life with for permanent residency and eventual citizenship.

It's amazing to me how many people, both gay and straight, think that gay couples can be afforded immigration rights through domestic partnerships.  That is not true, and we need to make sure more people are aware of this.  I certainly hope this changes soon as my partner is from South America and the legal fees alone in trying to figure out how to stay in the same place are staggering, not to mention the psychological worry. 

Can anyone tell me how to go about casting my vote?

By the way, this discrimination also affects permanent US residents (green card holders). There are fewer options available for green card holders, because by moving away, you risk losing your right to return and retain your resident status.

This is so important - I have been stuck in Belfast for 8 years with my N. Irish partner waiting for America to get it's act together and let us come home!  People in the UK are amazed when I explain we have to live here because the USA won't let my partner in, they all think it is the land of the free. Well it should be - stop discriminating against me!

As an American who has been living in exile in Canada for the last four years, I still can't understand why we both just can't go home. How will being able to sponsor my partner harm America?
Mr. Obama you promised justice for GLBT Americans to be able to sponsor their partners and you promised to support the UAFA.
We cannot wait four more years! We need this bill passed now.

As a British-American couple, we spent 10 years living in Holland - one of only three countries in the world that would take us in when my British work permit expired. 
Today, we are back in Britain. (In fact there was more paperwork and hassle for the cat to enter the country, than for me.)
One day, I can only hope, we will be welcome in my country as well. 

Lets get this through!

I support this.  

Isn't love wonderful?  If we can help our friends and neighbors build HAPPINESS in their lives - this can benefit us both at an individual local level and at a national level, and will bring blessings upon us and our country!  Happiness is linked to many issues such as health, having a positive outlook, motivation, the level of education, our productivity and financially success, and our own ability to spread happiness and love to other people!   To involve ourselves in deliberate action to destroy the happiness of other people, not only hurts them, but we grow and develop that evil antithesis to the Supreme Beauty of the Universe and attract it upon ourselves!

I am also personally affected by this outrage and disgrace imposed upon us by people who have tirelessly worked against the good and noble spirit of the United States, harming all Americans by their malevolent work.  Few are fooled into believing that God is the author of hatred.  The love of my life lives in Belarus (White Russia).  We've endured a very difficult five years of living separately - in two different countries - to the point that it's wearing both of us down emotionally.  We love each other and want to spend our lives together building something for ourselves, but we are starting to question whether having hope is realistic.

America needs to flatly ERASE all remaining vestiges of discriminatory practices - period!  I worked hard to elect Barack, because I think he has the heart to move America away from the dark and ugly shadow of hatred.

If my statements happen to make it to your desk Mr. President Elect, I am asking you to ISSUE A PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER very soon after you're sworn into office, that immediately sweeps away all discriminatory laws from the federal down to the state levels against all sexual minorities and human beings.  We've been with you and we've been waiting for this day.  Please don't make us wait five, ten or fifty more years!

This is both a moral and civil rights issue.  Morally, it is wrong that LGBT people must choose between their lovers and their country! When the government issues the deportation edict ALL choices that are made by the affected couples are bad.  It is simply unfair.

That leads us to the civil rights issue.  As an American citizen, an LGBT person is a second class citizen simply because the rights that heterosexuals enjoy are not equally applied. 

I share the sentiment that we have waited way too long for this simple change to the law (and a simple verbage change is what it would be, replace 'married' and 'spouse' with 'married/domestically partnered' and 'spouse/domestic partner').  Immigration law is notoriously difficult to update because it is so controversial, but this strikes me as one of the less controversial changes proposed, and one that doesn't seem to have two sides (at least that's how it strikes me, I'm sure there are people out there who think that requiring gay CITIZENS to leave the country to be with their partners is a good thing).

My partner and I fell in love 10 1/2 years ago.  We have lived apart most of this time to do everything legal....  IT IS TIME THAT THE UAFA IS PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is time for the USA to catch up with the rest of the free world. We need the UAFA to pass. No one should be forced to choose between the person and the country they love.

I think that everyone knows one of the most basic rights is to be able to live with the person you love. But for many Americans just like my self that love someone out side of the USA it's not so easy. The USA has no immigration law/rights for gay individuals. In 16 countries through out the world, the foreign partner in these bi-national relationships can be granted citizenship in the residing country- just as in heterosexual relationships. However, in the United States, foreign partners of gay individuals aren't given the same privilege. As a result, many gay couples (regardless of the length of their relationship or the level of commitment) are forced to either be apart, retreat to their respective countries of citizenship or live in another country (such as I do). Were given the choice of love or country.

The Uniting American Families Act is not special treatment. It's fair treatment!

Please tell your congressman to support legislation for UAFA!

Please use this link: http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/uafa_0508

It's a quick and easy way to send a message to your Congressperson and Senator. It cost nothing and will only take a moment of your time.

I have done so already, being I'm from Atlanta my Congressman is Phil Gingrey. I knew what his answer would be but I sent him a message anyway.

Here was his reply:

Dear Mr. Otwell:   Thank you for contacting me to express your support for H.R. 2221, the Uniting American Families Act of 2007.  I appreciate the opportunity to learn of and respond to your views on this matter.  As you are aware, H.R. 2221 was introduced by Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) on May 8, 2007.  If enacted, this legislation would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow same-sex partners of U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner that a spouse would.  H.R. 2221 was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, where it is currently awaiting further action.  Like you, I believe in equal opportunity under the law for all Americans; and as your Member of Congress from Georgia's 11th Congressional District, it is my obligation to protect the rights of all citizens under the United States Constitution.  Because the majority of Americans continue to oppose same-sex marriage even among U.S. Citizens, I cannot support legislation that confers immigration benefits upon foreign nationals that are exclusively for married spouses.  Although we may disagree on this particularly issue, thank you again for taking the time to contact me.  If you feel that I may be of additional assistance on this, or any to other matter of importance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.  I also invite you to sign up for my weekly email newsletter, or to share your ideas and opinions, by visiting my website at http://gingrey.house.gov or emailing me at gingrey.ga@mail.house.gov.  My follow up was this:
Mr Gingrey,

Thank you for taking the time to reply and express your opinion on H.R. 2221, the Uniting American Families Act of 2007.
You understand this bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate discrimination in the immigration laws by permitting permanent partners of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner as spouses of citizens and lawful permanent residents and to penalize immigration fraud in connection with permanent partnerships.

I feel your decision in very un-just with this legislation. In 16 countries through out the world, the foreign partner in these bi-national relationships can be granted citizenship in the residing country- just as in heterosexual relationships. However, in the United States, foreign partners of gay individuals aren't given the same privilege. As a result, many gay couples (regardless of the length of their relationship or the level of commitment) are forced to either be apart or retreat to their respective countries of citizenship.

This bill would grant immigration rights to same sex permanent partnerships, the most basic of rights; the right to be with the person they love. I understand your feelings over definition of marriage and that it is a very controversial issue. But this legislation has nothing to with Same-sex marriage or it's entitlement . It will grant basic immigration rights that spouses of citizens and lawful permanent residents receive.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, approximately 75% of the 1 million green cards issued in the United States yearly are issued to family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents- most of which are heterosexual spouses. The 2000 U.S. census records 6% of the 594,391 same-sex "unmarried partners" are comprised of one citizen and one non-citizen. Bi-national gay partners are thus forced to be apart or violate immigration policies, which can result in deportation.

This is the United States of America. A country known for it's personal freedom and rights of it's people. Discrimination in any forum should never be tolerated. Every American should be granted the right to be with the person they love.As you can see even if you don't get the answer you want to hear don't let that stop you! Together we can all make a change for the better. Help this legislation to pass by contacting your representative today.

Support The Uniting American Families Act! http://gayrights.change.org/actions/view/support_uniting_american_families_act

Use this link to send a message to your elected representative that says you supprt UAFA. This legislation will grant immigration rights to same sex couples. Please use the link and let your congressperson know your feelings. If you want to see a change make it happen.

Hi from South Africa,
Like numerous others, I can understand the frustration in living in exile as I have been doing so for eight years now. Not that South Africa is a poor place to live but, obviously, cannot fathom the fact that myself and my partner do not have the option available to relocate. I would agree this is flat out discrimination. I would tend to agree with some other comments on a related issue whereby the term "marriage" needs to be left to religious institutions and common-law or legally committed (whatever one would define a same sex or any version of a legalised union, same-sex or otherwise) needs to be used in all discussions to avoid the religious right backlash - look at California and the Mormon intervention sadly. Even the term "spouse" implies a marriage of some kind, at least to some in the general population. The more conservative then get edgy with any reference to this idea of same-sex marriage. Whilst I do not oppose gay marriage by any means...why not take a more non-threatening stance by changing the vernacular just enough to garner more support. I do not believe that the majority would oppose legal rights incl immigration for same-sex partnerships as Mr Gingrey seems to think; but certainly there appears to be hesitation in regards to the marriage issue. One last comment..what exactly does Mr Gingrey mean by stating "protect the rights of all US citizens under the US Constitution"?? What exact means of protection does he refer?  

Thank you all for voting. I'm an American living in exile in order to be with my partner and we both want to come home to California as soon as we can! - phyllis

Hi chris romaniello,

Thanks for the questions. You know I'm not really even sure he knows what he's talking about. I have had issues with Mr. Gingrey many times before. Most of the time he will tell me he will keep my thoughts in mind then after a bill is voted on send me a message back telling me that he voted other than how I had wished. I get that as kinda a laugh in the face. I have plans to visit him in the future face to face and question him on this. Or better yet just get him voted out. From what I can see he has never done anything while in office. Other than be hateful biggot. This legislation has nothing to do with gay marrige but yet he's trying to make that an issue rather than just saying what he really feels. "I don't like gay people!" Just like most of the far right we know he will never come out and say that. Never the less I will keep on trying.

As Christmas comes closer, I get madder and madder what people don’t understand about gay marriage is that there are people like me that have to travel hundreds if not thousands of miles to see their life partner or what ever you want call the other half.  Gay people in relationships in the United States don’t understand that gay marriage has to be on the Federal level that way we can bring our lovers into the United States and we don’t have to be separated by thousands of miles from the person we care about.      So on one of the unlucky few that have to travel thousands of miles to see my lover over the holidays.  As far as I’m concerned we need to be protesting more in be more vocal about gay marriage.              When all the gay couples are happy under the Christmas tree opening up gifts and making love there are people like me and my lover and thousands of other gay couples that traveled hundreds or thousands of miles to see each other! Merry Christmas to all the bigots in this country that want to deny people their rights!

I have read the testimonies above, and wish to associate myself with my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters in this regard.

I am fortunate. I am an American and he is a Canadian. His nation provides all the rights of civil marriage and immigration rights as it does opposite sex couples.

We live in my native state of MA....also a trailblazing state. I can not provide him with any rights whatsoever...but he provides me with all the possibilities.

We have been together for 32 years, and married in Toronto in 03. Our son was born that year, and he is a dual national since we are both legal fathers.

I pity those in love with South Americans, Europeans or Asians. Many of these nations provide reciprocity for their American partners, but the reverse is controlled by the Right Wing.

DOMA must be repealed and federal recognition of civil marriages in states must become the US law of the land. We married in Canada in 2003, but only in 2005 when the federal law was passed was immigration rights nailed down.

I so hope this passes, I am from the UK and my partner is from the US we try and get to see each other as often as we can as we both have two children whom live with myself. My children class my partner as their farther as well and he has taken them both on as his own. Both my children are now teenagers and love their other dad to bits! you can learn a lot from children! I'm angery in the fact that my partner had spinal surgery a couple of months ago and I wasn't allowed to be there when he came through the operation! fancy not being there for your loved one when they need you most!! when I went the last time to the States I was stopped by immigration and taken away to a office where they had all my paper work on the desk! I was told that I have visited the States too may times, even though I was allowed in this time which was only for ten days.... I was told not to come back for over seven months!!! you can imagen the look on my face! My partner needs another operation on his spine and guess what I won't be there again to see him when he wakes up! This isn't right to keep loved ones like this apart.....where's the justice??? I am so terrefied to go back now incase i get deported!
please pass this bill soon...

Please help Congress get the message loud and clear: America supports passage of the Uniting American Families Act!

Please follow this link (copy and pate if you have to): http://gayrights.change.org/actions/view/tell_congress_to_pass_the_uniting_american_families_act

It will send you to a web-forum to send a message to your lawmaker that says support the Uniting American Families Act.


By writing your lawmakers today, you bring us one step closer to equal immigration rights, so citizens can sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration!  

Please use the link and send a message today! Please tell your friends to do the same. Together we can make a change.

Happy Holidays to everyone =]
Hoping next year brings us UAFA, DREAM, marriage equality and other reforms we need to prosper as a country.

Stay safe!

My partner is Austrian.  We were legally married in California in August and, fortunately, Austria will recognize our marriage so I am applying for Austrian citizenship as the legal spouse of an Austrian citizen.  I fully support this bill which will go a small way toward elevating the US out of its medieval, third-world mind set.

I am the foreign half of a binational couple in the US. My partner is a US citizen. I came to the US as a student and obtained my PhD in Engineering from a top US university, and now I work in a challenging technical job on a work visa. Although my partner and I are together right now, we realize that the situation can change any time if I lose my job. A green card for me will take years, even in the "national interest" category.
We feel like our life, our hopes hang by a thread - we would like to buy a house, settle down, start a family. Instead, we find ourselves coming up with backup plans just in case - applying for residency permit in Canada and other gay-friendly countries who would welcome our high knowledge and skills with open arms.
Allowing foreign halves of same-sex couples the same immigration rights as for straight couples would be such a enormous positive step for us and allow us to live the American dream together, here.

BOYCOTT THE DEPRESSION
Lies
Truth
x-stain-ity
NON- X-stian-ity
Certainty
Doubt.
DOUBT CAN BE A BOND AS STRONG & SUSTAINING as certainty.

Sex, Lies & Youtube.




youtube *com / user / HomoGeneyes

My partner and I have lost three dear couple-friends to America's outdated immigration policy, which does not allow Americans to sponsor their same-sex partners to become citizens. This is including our 2-year-old daughter's beloved godmother, who moved to the Netherlands with her German partner because they actually have rights there as a couple. 
This should be a priority for the new Obama administration. This is a social justice issue. 

My partner is Guatemalan and I'm American. She is a doctor and I am a medical student in the US. We have no idea what is going to happen when I graduate. Just in case, we are currently searching for a 3rd country that we can call home. I don't want to leave and she would love to come to the US but there is no way for us to do it legally. I hope that UAFA will pass so that I won't be forced to go.

Gay couples should have the same rights as straight couples, anything less is unconscionable.  A country that is based on the tenet of equality for all looks hypocritical if equality requires selection of a partner to be of the opposite gender.

If people (straight OR gay) pick an illegal alien, that's their tough luck.  Illegals deserve NOTHING!!!

mmh the whole point is so that the person could come here LEGALLY. in most cases its not like they are living here illegally already... they are in their country and they can't move here and live here at all even though they are in a permanent relationship with a U.S. citizen. thats the problem. nobody wants to break a law we just want the same rights. 

I totally support this great initiative and hopefully one day soon we will have equal rights.

I am an American living in exile.

My partner and I have enjoyed a loving, committed relationship with each other for the last 4 years.  We consider ourselves lucky to have found true lifelong partners in each other, and in every sense of the word, we are a married couple.

While my heart is complete after finding my husband, my life is incomplete due to my country.  My husband is Brazilian and has not been able to immigrate to the United States which is our preferred home.  Instead, I have been forced to choose between my family and lifelong friends and my loving and committed partner.  For the last year, I have been living in Brazil to be with my husband. I cannot afford to travel frequently so now I only see my family once a year.  My parents are in their late 70's and I am not there to help provide support, celebrate birthday's or anniversaries or participate in holiday gatherings.  Most phone calls end in tears as my mother is devastated that her youngest son is so far away.  I struggle with my situation every day all because my country does not allow my husband to immigrate to the United States.

I urge you to support S. 1328/H.R. 2221, the Uniting American Families Act - legislation that will effect the tens of thousands of couples in my similar situation.  Let's do the right thing and bring our families together.