BREAKING: We're In! Menendez Senate Comprehensive Immigration Bill Includes Same-Sex Binational Couples

by Kathy Drasky

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has introduced comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) legislation that is truly comprehensive - it includes provision for same-sex binational couples.

This monumental achievement comes after months of phone calls, letters and visits to Congressional representatives and their staffers by Out4Immigration, Immigration Equality and many, many other individuals and groups dedicated to ending immigration discrimination against LGBT Americans with foreign partners or, as we are collectively known, same-sex binational couples.

Here is a report from the conservative-leaning Washington Independent, one of the first outlets to break the news and include information about same-sex binational couples. It errs on the side of conservatism (to say the least) - but we'll be adding more favorable reports and links as they come our way.

Right now, let's give ourselves a big pat on the back for all the work we've been doing (which has also resulted in 12 new UAFA co-sponsors this month). There are so many Out4Immigration volunteers to thank, I don't want to run the risk of naming you all and leaving someone out! But, to see just two very recent examples of the amazing work O4I volunteers do on their own time please click here to see a very personal video appeal for UAFA and equal rights produced by Gina; and here to read a post from Erik who has been building coalitions with other immigrant rights groups and just returned from a trip to Washington DC that helped move the Menendez legislation along.

The work continues...