Forum focuses on LGBTs and immigration

by Amy Wooten
Windy City Times

During the week of the large immigration march downtown, members of the community gathered at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, to discuss the many ways LGBT and immigration issues intersect.

At the April 30 Immigration at the Margins conference, members of various aspects of the LGBT community touched on just a small number of ways immigration issues impact the LGBT community, from corner day workers and sex workers to domestic violence.

“A lot of us are part of many worlds—queer, immigrants and more,” said community activist and Windy City Times writer Yasmin Nair. “A lot of us have to deal with immigration.”

During a two-hour discussion, conference participants tried to shed light on issues complicated by immigration issues.

full article

Immigration and gays

Another true gay immigration story (the names have been changed).

Ed was a good guy. He was working hard, owned his own home and business.

One day he met Babah online. Babah visited Ed on vacation for two weeks. Ed picked him up at LAX.

The two of them “hit it off” well.

But there were a couple problems.

Ed is a US citizen and Babah is a citizen of Malaysia, and Muslim.

Perhaps some of you who have not had dealings with immigration don’t see the problem.

Ed can’t marry Babah (in the USA or in Malaysia).

Babah can’t move to the USA because they won’t grant him permission to stay.

Ed can’t move to Malaysia because they won’t grant him permission to stay. But Ed can visit Malaysia without prior permission (visa not required).

Many will say it was time to move on. And if bureaucracy told you that you couldn’t love whom you love? Stop and think about it a minute.

If anyone told you that you could not marry or be with the person you love, what would you do? Would you just turn your back, walk away and find someone else? I doubt it!

Ed could go visit Malaysia without the need for a visa. Babah could not come to the USA without a visa. In other words, he had to get permission to visit the USA.

In desperation, Ed sold his business, rented his home and went to Malaysia. Babah had rented an apartment for them.

They were finally together. Of course Ed could only stay in Malaysia for 90 days at a time. He’d have to leave every 90 days and stay out of country over night. He could then return to Malaysia for another 90 days. Of course, there was always a risk the Malaysian officials might refuse Ed entry at the border, especially after time.

Unfortunately, for many reasons, when the second 90 day deadline was approaching Ed would be returning to the USA. Never to see Babah again.

In defense of Babah we must remember he is Muslim and in the closet. As if his religion wasn’t enough to keep him in the closet, he also lives in a restrictive Malaysian society.

Ed returned home and lived with family until he could move back into his home. He was heart broken and beaten by “the system”.

Ed would never again be the man he once was. Being a marginalized US citizen Ed could not live his dream. His dream didn’t fit mainstream thinking.

Ed paid taxes just like everyone else but his country didn’t care about his rights or feelings.

Living in a world which constantly degrades homosexuals is one thing, not being able to love whom you love is quite another.

If you have ever truly loved someone, I’m sure you can’t imagine being told:

“you can’t love that person, love someone else”

USA immigration discrimination

I am American and my partner is Dutch. We have been living in the Netherlands for 12 years because it is nearly impossible to move to the US even though it would be better for my career since my employer is headquartered in the US. My partner is a full time stay-at-home father to our 16 month old son who we ironically adopted from the US. Due to current immigration policies, my partner could not get a visa to live in the US.

I could move back to the US (since I am a US citizen) and take our son with me (as he is a US citizen). I could even take our Golden Retriever (who was born and bred in the Netherlands) without any problems. But my son's other father (we are both recognized as legal parents under US law) is not welcome. There simply are no provisions in US law to deal with our family's situation.

Binational couples refers to couples in which the partners come from different countries. Although 16 nations around the world allow their citizens to sponsor their same sex partners for immigration benefits, unfortunately, the United States does not recognize our relationships for immigration purposes. Because of the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, even same sex couples which have been legally married in Massachusetts, Canada, the Netherlands, or Belgium, will not be able to immigrate based on their marriage.

U.S. SET TO DEPORT GAY IRANIAN

President George W. Bush and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may not agree on much, but tragically they may find common ground about the disposability of Hassan Parhizkar’s life.

Since November 7, this mild-mannered 40-year-old gay Iranian businessman from Rockville, Maryland has been sitting in jail in the Frederick County, Maryland Detention Center, housed with common criminals, in the living hell of limbo between the freedom he has known since he came to the United States as a young man 17 years ago and the certain persecution, imprisonment, or worse that will be his fate as a gay man if he is sent back to Iran.

"I am very afraid, and so very frustrated. My asylum request has never been before an immigration judge. I just don’t know what to do, I just don’t know what to do…" he added in a voice choked with tears."I work hard, I pay my taxes, and I live a quiet life without bothering anybody."

full story

Help for BiNationals?

The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) is a U.S. bill introduced to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act which currently houses the countries immigration policies. If passed, UAFA would allow permanent partners of United States citizens and permanent residents, including same-sex partners, to obtain residency. Currently, only the heterosexual spouses of U.S. citizens are granted citizenship.

UAFA (formerly known as the Permanent Partners Immigration Act) was defeated in the 108th Congress, but was re-introduced to the Democratic-controlled House and Senate on May 8, 2007 by New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT).

In 16 countries throughout the world, the foreign partner in these binational relationships can be granted citizenship in the residing country—just as in heterosexual relationships. However, in countries such as the United States, foreign partners of gay individuals aren't given the same privilege. As a result, many gay couples (regardless of the length of their relationship or the level of commitment) are forced to be apart—retreating to their respective countries of citizenship. UAFA would allow these couples to live together in the United States.