The Rainbow Post

Immigration reform is again in the headlines again,    an the  framework for comprehensive immigration reform, authored by Senators Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer and Robert Menendez  makes good reading,  and positive  steps forward for those of us in the gay community.      The new framework calls for an end to discrimination levied against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender binational families. 

This framework,  are the key principles, which are meant to guide Congressional crafting of immigration reform legislation, specifically call for key provisions of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) to be part of a future reform bill.

This  would allow LGBT citizens and legal permanent residents of the USA to sponsor their foreign national partners for residency in the United States.      Now  under current law,   no such sponsorship is possible,  which is hurting and dividing an estimated 36,000  people.     UAFA is sponsored in the Senate by Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, and in the House by Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York.

“Today’s inclusive framework is an historic step forward for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender binational families,” said Rachel B. Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality. “Now, it is time to turn these principles into laws. We will fight to ensure that the Uniting American Families Act is an indelible part of the immigration reform bill.”

“The LGBT community is committed to comprehensive immigration reform that includes everyone,” Tiven added. “Our community understands, all too well, the pain of being punished and singled out for who we are. Our solidarity with the larger immigrant community is deep, and our resolve to fix our broken immigration system is real. We will work for a bill that provides a path to citizenship for the undocumented, including those who are LGBT. Time is of the essence for those facing separation or deportation, and Congress must act, urgently, to pass humane, comprehensive reform.”

Immigration reform  on this issue is so important,  it divides so many people,  so  many gay relationships suffer  at the hands of an unequal law,  many relationships are placed under so much strain and hardship that they collapse and break.  Indeed,  that was a major contributory factor for my own relationship with am America guy to falter and break down.   Whilst it would have been easy for me to sponsor him to come and live in the UK and us joining together in a civil partnership -  getting married, in other words,  in all but name.  But no such provisions exists under US rules.   Getting a different working visa, is incredible difficult from the UK,  firstly it't not part of the 'Green Card Lottery' scheme where around 300,000 green cards are given away to foriegn nations,  whether they be skilled or unskilled

“Immigration Equality,” Tiven concluded, “is working for a bill that protects LGBT immigrants who so desperately need reform. The path forward is about keeping families together and building a system that values our country’s unique and precious history as a nation of immigrants.”