LA Times: Binational Gay Couples in Immigration Bind

Advocates say same-sex partners facing being separated should have same rights as spouses.
By Richard Fausset
Times Staff Writer

June 10, 2006

As Americans debate the merits of immigration overhaul, some gay activists are using the moment to highlight the plight of gay binational couples who are sometimes forced apart by an immigration policy that disregards their relationships.

The couples' dilemmas reveal a gulf between the growing social acceptance of gay couples and an aversion to granting them the same kinds of legal rights as married heterosexuals, advocates say.In many cases, the couples move in together, buy property and even raise children in the United States. The foreign partner often stays in the country under the terms of a temporary visa. When that visa expires or is revoked, the couples face tough choices: They can disregard immigration laws, move out of the country or break up.

"It's quite upsetting," said Mark Himes, a Harrisburg, Pa., resident who is raising two children with a Frenchman who may soon be forced to leave the country. "I'm following the rules, and I'm doing exactly what my heterosexual friends are doing — and yet I am not allowed to succeed or achieve the American dream."

According to an analysis of 2000 U.S. census data commissioned by Immigration Equality, a New York gay rights group, the U.S. was home to about 36,000 same-sex couples that had one American and one foreigner. The group thinks many more are living in secrecy.

LA Times

This is the reason I don't live in the US. Because I can't.

As gay native American who tried to get his husband into US and failed, I had to move back with husband to HIS country because I had no choice. I was not willing to give up husband just to live in my own country, the wondrous highly advanced USA. In September 2000, Hilary Clinton at a gay function in NYC running for Senate assured me, shaking my hand, surely capturing my vote, that binational gay immigration was a major issue at the top of her list. She even, to my surprise, included it in her speech. Yes indeedy. Haven't heard her breathe a word about this topic since, and it's been six years. Rep Nadler has made this an issue for quite some time, however. Glad it's finally getting coverage in the LA Times.

Why hasn't she cosponsored it?

I can't read immigration-related posts on DU other than GLBT because people will post how they immigrated here legally so everyone else should, then they go on to say how they were sponsored through their husband or wife or other federal government-accepted family member. When I've brought up immigration equality on DU I've received responses such as "Oh, everyone thinks they're a special case" or a flat-out "Tell me why this should be America's problem?"

...have tried for many, MANY years now to garner some interest in the plight of gay binational couples, but as you guessed it, we have not succeeded.

The problem is, they see it as a cause that doesn't affect them, or anyone they know, so it isn't an important issue for them. And that goes with people with in our own community as well.

I cannot tell you how many queers Sapph and I have come across who, after talking to us say "oh they never realized this was another area in law where we are discriminated against." Yet, they don't do anything about it. They don't join our fight.

making sure war industry remained flush, than to be bothered trying to keep any promises she made and quickly forgot.

Other than occasional lip service, there are a number of serious issues people on DU just don't care about: poverty & homelessness in America, the ever-expanding millions locked up in for-profit prisons, etc. True equal civil rights for GLBT couples is another.

I have often wondered about that. That has happened in other cases here where people wanted health care and the like.

http://www.immigrationequality.org/template.php?pageid=27

I urge everyone to read this list, it covers many of the questions we are often asked.

It seems the only way out for now is skilled worker status.