New Bipartisan Bill Would Give Bi-National Couples Equal Treatmen

NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign
1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20036-3278
E-mail: hrc [at] hrc.org
http://www.hrc.org
_________________________________

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Contact: Steven Fisher
Phone: (202) 216-1547
Cell: (202) 431-7608

Contact: Jay Smith Brown
Phone: (202) 216-1580
Cell: (202) 716-1650

NEW BIPARTISAN BILL WOULD GIVE BI-NATIONAL COUPLES EQUAL TREATMENT

"Our laws should bring families together, not tear them apart," said
HRC
President Joe Solmonese

WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign today lauded the introduction of
the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) in the House of
Representatives
and Senate - a bill that would treat same-sex couples the same as
opposite sex-couples for the purposes of immigration. The bill was
previously named the Permanent Partners Immigration Act (PPIA).
"Our nation should bring families together, not tear them
apart," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "Same-sex bi-national couples
are often forced to separate because the government views them as
strangers under the law."
The bill was introduced today in the House and Senate by Rep. Jerrold
Nadler of New York and Sen. Pat Leahy of Vermont, respectively, along
with a large number of bipartisan cosponsors from both chambers.
"The 2000 Census reports nearly 36,000 couples living in
same-sex bi-national couples in the U.S." said Adam Francoeur, Program
Coordinator of Immigration Equality. "The Uniting American Families Act
upholds the stated principle within U.S. immigration policy to promote
family unification. We applaud Senator Leahy and Congressman Nadler
for
including LGBT families within that principle."
"It is time that the United States catch up with the growing
list of countries around the world that have instituted fair and
consistent immigration policies for same-sex couples," said Solmonese.
At least 16 countries recognize same-sex couples for the
purposes of immigration including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, the Netherlands,
New
Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay,
bisexual
and transgender political organization with members throughout the
country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and
educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest
and safe at home, at work and in the community.

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