"I am not asking for anyone's pity - I am demanding the right that my relationship be protected like anyone else's."
- Alex
Binational Couples
Binational couples refers to couples in which the partners come from different countries.
Although 16 nations around the world allow their citizens to sponsor their same sex partners for immigration benefits, unfortunately, the United States does not recognize our relationships for immigration purposes.
Because of the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, even same sex couples which have been legally married in Massachusetts, Canada, the Netherlands, or Belgium, will not be able to immigrate based on their marriage.
Every day we hear from desperate couples, forced to choose between the partner they love and the country they love, which is why we are fighting to change the immigration law and end this discrimination.
source: immigrationequality.com |
Alex - from the Blog
partner kept out of US by immigration laws
But why SOME of this rights why not ALL of these rights? And who will decides what rights to confer? See, my partner with whom I have been with for three years is not a U.S. citizen. Unlike a husband and wife, I cannot petition for his U.S. residency so we are both stuck living in his home country. And the only reason we are lucky enough to be together here is that I was able to find a decent job in order to stay here.
Many same-sex couples are forced to live apart, an incredible cruel situation forced on them by discriminatory immigration laws of the U.S. government (The U.S. is the ONLY major English speaking country that has not eliminated this injustice, which could be eliminated either by legalizing same-sex marriage OR amending immigration laws, which countries that do not allow same-sex marriage have done). And immigration rights are only ONE of the over 1,000 Federal rights granted by marriage. My point is you can't pick and choose which rights to confer.
I really don't understand while Europe and Canada are embracing same-sex couples the U.S. wants to move backwards. I guess it is our proud history of slavery, discrimination and bigotry at work!
My partner and I are sick and tired of living this way. We want ALL the rights conferred upon married couples, either through same-sex marriage or fully recognized civil unions. Our relationship deserves no less.
Read this statement in its original context...
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