May 24, 2010

MEDIA RELEASE

Gay Rights Group Applauds
Congressional Commitment to Binational Same-sex Couples

CHICAGO - Equality Illinois, one of Midwest’s largest organization advocating for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, applauds Congressional commitment to including binational same-sex couples in immigration reform. 

Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (IL-4), the sponsor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP) and a national leader of the fight for immigration reform and fairness, joined with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) leaders to announce his commitment to inclusion of same-sex couples and their families in comprehensive immigration reform efforts in Congress this year.  Congressman Gutierrez was joined by Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-5) and Congressman Jared Polis (CO-2).

“Family unification is the bedrock principle of America’s immigration laws, and same-sex partners in committed relationships must be allowed to stay together, just like heterosexual couples can” -said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois.  “Congressman Gutierrez committed today to making binational same-sex couple provision a non-negotiable component of any immigration reform bill that moves forward, and we must all come together to support him in that effort.”

“Congressman Gutierrez has been a consistent leader on LGBT equality issues, and we are grateful to him for his leadership on this issue, as well.” – said Rick Garcia, Equality Illinois Director of Public Policy.  “We applaud U.S. Representatives Gutierrez, Quigley and Polis for stepping up to ensure that 40,000 binational same-sex couples would not have to live in fear of being torn apart by discriminatory laws.”

CIR ASAP (H.R. 4321), Gutierrez' comprehensive bill cosponsored by 97 other members, does not currently include a specific provision extending legal immigration benefits to bi-national same-sex couples and their families.  However, the attending members of Congress committed to inclusion of a specific provision that would allow an American citizen in a committed same-sex bi-national relationship to petition for an immigrant visa for her or his permanent partner in the same manner as an opposite-sex couple can.  This would ensure that all American families can remain together through the immigration process.  As many as 40,000 couples – many with American citizen children – would benefit from the provision.  Other key provisions of CIR ASAP, including legalization provisions for undocumented residents, asylum policy reforms, and treatment in detention, already apply to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. 

The speakers also addressed the need for the LGBT and immigrant communities to be united in their efforts to pass this legislation this year.  Also participating in the press conference were individuals who would benefit from the legislation and who will tell their personal stories of their families being separated by America’s broken immigration system. 

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Equality Illinois was founded to secure, protect and defend the civil rights of lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender Illinoisans. It is one of the Midwest’s largest gay civil rights organizations.