I have exciting news.
Earlier this morning, Immigration Equality filed a lawsuit, challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), on behalf of 5 couples who are fighting – on behalf of us all – to end the discrimination our families face every day. This is an historic moment in our advocacy campaign on behalf of LGBT immigrant families, and I wanted you to be among the first to know about it.
Our lawsuit has everything we need to win. It is backed by the expertise of the Immigration Equality team and was filed with our pro bono partners at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, one of the nation’s most prestigious law firms.
You can learn more about the lawsuit, including our plaintiff families, by visiting www.immigrationequality.org/lawsuit. You can also read our court filing, and follow the latest news on the case as it makes its way through the courts.
Over the course of the past year, the Obama Administration has refused to approve – or even hold – green card applications filed by our families. As a result, couples are facing separation and exile . . . and we will not sit idly by as the federal government keeps tearing families apart.
We put together the strongest lawsuit, with the best team in the business, because we know how much is riding on our victory. Our legal staff advises more LGBT immigrant families than any other organization in the country. We are the experts the experts turn to on matters impacting those families. There is no group, and no individual, better prepared to win this fight in the courts.
And make no mistake: We are going to win.
There is no question that DOMA is unconstitutional. We know it; the Obama Administration knows it; and the families who feel its impact know it most of all. It is time to end this law, and Immigration Equality and our families will do just that.
Please take a moment – right now – to visit our website and read about today’s lawsuit. Then, share this email with your family and friends. We need everyone’s support as we move forward in the courts.
Today is a turning point in our struggle, and the beginning of the end of the unconscionable treatment our families have suffered for far too long.
Thank you!! <3 <3
Thank you very much indeed. A milestone in American LGBT history.
Thank you for all you are doing!!!!
This has brought a tear to my eye. Thankyou. All power to your elbow!
Many many thanks for this milestone.
Victory is ours!
My partner was forced into exile last month after tens years together.
He was totally accepted in my family; weddings AND funerals.
Why can’t I chose my mate?
Where is MY liberty?
My pursuit of happiness?
Why should a religious minority determine whom I may choose as my mate?
I am so happy and cannot wait for our victory.
I honestly wanted to cry…
How Great! thank you.
I got so emotioned when I received the e-mail from you. I hope something happens soon, because my partner who is American is forced to leave a European country every 90 days and he has no rights to get me over there. Our relationship is very special and I love him so much
We are forced to live separately and I haven’t seen him
since the 1st month of this year. I hope something happens soon so they grant me at least a visitor visa to go see him. I honestly cry every night and I’m so mad that straight couples can and we don’t. I can’t take it anymore so thanks for all your effort.
Let me add my appreciation also to IE for filing this important case. My husband and I (also forced to live apart due to DOMA) are thankful for your ongoing efforts. He and I were married in Canada 3 years ago after 15 years of being together. We persevere, but want want our lives back – together.
Thank you for this incredible journey. As an American living in Seoul, separated from MY family in the Philippines, I know that no honest judge in the US can find this law anything but unfair and discriminatory. This is one step closer to sharing a home with my partner. Present with passion and defend with fire. Thank you for being the unified voice for so many. peace
Awesome news…but if the Supreme Court would take a leadership role in this country and hear the cases that are already pending, IE wouldn’t need to be wasting their efforts on this clearly unconstitutional law! But, thank you for your ongoing efforts anyway…
I’m from India and my partner is American, I was in United States on my student visa since we can’t live without each other I got married to a girl just for convenience and but immigration officer he got to know that marriage was just done for the sake of living in united states and I was granted voluntary departure but how should I explain these officers and their laws that how difficult it is to live without our soul mate, I feel like crying every time I go to bed, I can’t even concentrate on my work. It’s so mean they do such kind of discrimination.
My heartful wishes to you guys for going miles and miles help LGBT community come together and live our life happily. I truely appreciate your efforts. God Bless you All !
This is great news; very disappointed with Obama; really thought he would do more.
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My husband and I have been living in exile in The Netherlands since 1983. I’m 60 and my Dutch national partner who I met in California in 1979 is 73. We haven’t been in the United States since 1999. Our country is not a welcoming place to be for us. Even though we are married, we, of course, will not be recognized as such even though on our Dutch passports it states that we are married. How can I (we) become part of the lawsuit? It has been my experience that you folks focus the attention on couples who are still in the US. Perhaps, an American citizen (me) who was forced to leave our country because of homophobia long, long ago could help to illustrate the injustice we have incurred. DOMA violates my constitutional right “to the pursuit of happiness” in every way one views it. If it is at all possible, I would certainly like to be one of the plaintiffs.
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Our very big thanks IE. Very saddened that the Obama administration has not provided relief on this issue. I agree with IE – we will win this fight.
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I don’t know what to say. “Thank you” sounds like it’s not enough. My partner and I, like many others, have been deeply affected by the way ‘alien’ partners of American citizens are treated like 3rd class nobodies. We have actually started the process for me (American) to move overseas to live where we are both given rights and more respect as a unit. I am hopeful that things will change here soon, but frankly I am also tired of so many of these obstacles and desire to move forward for a time. I am so appreciative that IE has the iron will and resolve to push through and fight for all of us. We will continue to donate and watch closely in anticipation of what is coming. With heartfelt love, respect, and bottomless appreciation.. we thank you for what you are doing.
I feel the same as you too. I can’t concentrate on anything and I feel like crying every time.
Congress should be relentlessly urged to pass the United American Families Act. Let us no lose sight of a priceless remedy. UAFA is extremely important Act and would help so many couples.
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Thank you Rachel and everyone at Immigration Equality for your support and hard work. We love you.
Thank you guys for your effort this is great news for LGBT community all my best wishes WE AR GONNA WIN. My partner is a US citizen and we’ve been living together for 5 years and we’ll be the rest of our lives cause we love each other with all our hearts, unfortunatelly I’m not a citizen and we cant move forward in our lives we are stuck with our plans of adopting kids and having our family dream, I try to be invisible to everyone in order to not have any problem with immigration but that makes me feel depressed and anxious sometimes i just dont want to stand up from bed but the only thing that keeps me feeling with hope is the love i feel from my partner. Although it is easay for me to go back and forward to my counry beacuse we live in the border with Mexico, I got a great job in Mexico and was looking forward to bring him over but all the violence in my country polarized all our dreams. IT IS TIME TO STOP ALL THIS DISCRIMATION.
We are Slowly but surely moving forward.
I have family and friends. Gays and lesbian. I realy apreciate what you guus doing for they happynes. But is time to put preasure to the federal goverment about this. You guys reach a lot of people and have contact with mamy G&L .
Contact all of them and make a big rally to Washington DC. That is the only way we can show them how many people is in support of the gay and lesbian comunity all around the country. I hope this coming one day. All Americans are Americans and have the same rights. Stop second class treatment.
My comment is in reference to the Washington Blade: Plantiffs Optimistic after DOMA Arguments. Paul Clement claims
Clement bore the brunt of disparaging comments from LGBT advocates after the hearing for arguments he made in court. Among them, his claims that opposite-sex marriages are beneficial because they’re the only union that can produce children. He also said DOMA allows the federal government to stay out of the way while states decide the issue of same-sex marriage.
Paul Clement apparently does not realize opposite sex marriages also produce children of same sex orientation. LGBT children are produced from opposite sex marriages. Not only does Clement represent discrimination against LGBT sexual orientation, but discrimination against the opposite sex parents of the LGBT that include many in the Republican Party. It should be brought to the attention of the courts. Paul Clement talks like an educated fool!
I just have to say.. God bless you for your support and i hope this have a happy ending, and im sure i will be… My partner is an american zitizen and i love this country with all my heart and there is nothing i want more than to stay with my soulmate for my entire life, we have been together for almost nine years… So again thank you and i hope God help us in this fight…
As one of my religion teachers back in high school put it: “Pay careful attention to the wording, here: “The PURSUIT of happiness”..See how it says nothing about BEING happy?” It makes me sad that his words seem truer and truer as I see more..