MAJOR SUPPORT FOR SAME-SEX PARTNER IMMIGRATION REFORM

According to a press release from Immigration Equality, the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), a bill that would grant equal immigration rights to Americans in same-sex binational relationships, is rapidly gaining support in both houses.

In just September alone, the UAFA has gained an unprecedented level of support when four more Senators and sixteen more Representatives joined in cosponsoring the legislation. That brings the total number of cosponsors to a record breaking eighteen Senators and 116 Congressional Representatives.

Under the current immigration laws, a heterosexual U.S. citizen can sponsor their spouse for immigration but because same-sex partnerships are not recognized by the Federal government, GLBT partners can't do the same thing.

That forces thousands of lesbian and gay binational couples into choosing between their partner or their country. This impossibly difficult situation often results in trying to maintain a long-distance relationship, self-exile abroad or ultimate separation.

Immigration Equality believes that this serves no public policy function and contradicts the central goal of U.S. immigration policy - family unification. The UAFA legislation would remedy this injustice.

To read the full press release, go to: Immigration Equality