Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Hearings on bi-national couples

From Andrew Sullivan, news that the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday learning about the obstacles faced by lesbian and gay couples under U.S. immigration law. Unlike straight couples, gay partners cannot sponsor each other for immigration, and under DOMA, have no access to the rights provided bi-national straight couples. Under the law, our families do not exist.

Andrew writes,
The premise of the marriage waiver - and of all immigration law in the US - is that tearing families or married couples apart should be avoided at all costs. But bi-national gay married couples now have to face exactly that choice between spouse and country that the US has always avoided.

Why? Because our marriages are null and void for the federal government under DOMA. Because our very being is regarded as sub-human.


Update: Some actual stories here

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