Gaytterdämmerung: Victory For Same-Sex Binational Couples!

The amazing good news for LGBT people during 2013's pride season continues. Wednesday the Supreme Court issued two pro-gay decisions in Windsor and Hollingsworth. Thursday was the 44th anniversary of the Stonewall riots (and yours truly gave a well-received speech at work on the occasion). Friday, marriage equality was restored in California. And today comes word that the federal government has approved a permanent residence application (i.e. for a green card) from a U.S. citizen (resident in a state which does not allow or recognize same-sex marriage) based on a legal same-sex marriage.

This means that the nightmare situation faced by same-sex binational couples who could not find a way to stay together due to homophobic immigration laws is now consigned to the dustbin of history. As a board member of the national organization devoted to assisting same-sex binational couples and having been in a binational relationship myself this is incredibly satisfying news!

Lavi Soloway of the DOMA Project confirmed the news to Buzzfeed:

The DOMA Project, whose lawyers represent the couple, announced the news Saturday morning, calling it “the first time in U.S. history a marriage-based green card petition filed by a gay couple has been approved.”

“As a gay immigrant and as an immigration attorney and gay rights activist who has worked on this issue for 20 years, this is a moment of particular personal satisfaction, Lavi Soloway, the couple’s lawyer and a founder of The DOMA Project, told BuzzFeed on Saturday.

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“The approval of this petition demonstrates that the Obama administration’s commitment to recognizing same-sex couples’ marriages after the Supreme Court ruling is now a reality on the ground. We expect additional approvals of green card applications and petitions in the coming days,” Soloway said.

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“It is symbolically very important that this first petition that was approved comes for a couple that lives in Florida, a state that has a constitutional ban preventing same-sex couples from marrying. This shows the effect of the DOMA ruling for immigration purposes will extend to couples, no matter where they live, so long as they have a valid marriage license,” Soloway said.

Amazing news! Immigration laws are incredibly complicated, but Immigration Equality has a very useful list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) that binational couples should review before taking any drastic steps.

Happy Pride!