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Immigration Equality Blog

The Plight of LGBT Immigrant Detainees

After civil rights complaints were filed by immigrant and LGBT advocates, Congressmen Jared Polis (D-CO) and Mike Quigley (D-IL) last month called for a government investigation into alleged abuse of lesbian, … Read more

February 21, 2012 / by Erwin de Leon

Rep. Peter Welch Stands Up for VT Couple on House Floor

On Friday, Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives about his constituents – Immigration Equality clients Frances Herbert and Takako Ueda – who face separation because of DOMA and discriminatory U.S. immigration laws. Read more

February 18, 2012 / by Steve Ralls

See the Video Everyone’s Talking About

Matt Conley and Yoav Schlezinger are a married, U.S.-Israeli couple who have been in touch with Immigration Equality’s legal team as they navigate DOMA and look for options to reunite after being separated by our country’s discriminatory immigration laws. This morning, Matt & Yoav shared a video they made, for Valentine’s Day, about their plight. Read more

February 14, 2012 / by Steve Ralls / Comments: 1

NY Lawmakers Join Immigration Equality to Help Binational Gay Couple Stay Together

Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, and Representative Tim Bishop, joined Immigration Equality in successfully advocating to help Edwin Blesch and his husband, Tim Smulian, remain together in the United States. The lawmakers announced today that after their push urging the federal agency to allow Smulian to remain in New York to care for his seriously ill spouse, immigration officials have granted him a one-year reprieve. Read more

February 10, 2012 / by Steve Ralls / Comments: 1

Prop 8 Struck Down. What Does It Mean?

Today the 9th Circuit struck down California’s Proposition 8, finding the law unconstitutional and declaring that it violates the rights of lesbian and gay Californians by taking away the right to marry. Unfortunately, however, immigration remains a federal benefit. Now we need a ruling that says the federal government must also respect our marriages, too. Read more

February 7, 2012 / by Victoria Neilson / Comments: 4