Not Our Usual Holiday Message...

This is our holiday newsletter that we sent out earlier this month. In case you missed it, or need an easy way to share this message, we've re-posted it here. 

A number of actions have occurred this year to give us extra hope this holiday season...

Just last week, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) agreed to hear two cases challenging the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). It is Section 3 of DOMA, the clause that bans the US federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, that has blocked same-sex binationals from equal immigration rights - even as more states, cities and jurisdictions recognize our marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships. (Out4Immigration Prepares for SCOTUS Review of DOMA Cases)

Until this part of DOMA is struck down, the Obama Administration takes action to hold green card petitions filed by same-sex binationals "in abeyance" until DOMA's constitutionality can be decided, and/or Congress includes the language in the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) in any Comprehensive Immigration Reform bills they will vote on - we must continue our fight and our push across all three branches of government.

The good news? We are so many steps closer to achieving recognition of our relationships and immigration rights at the federal level than we were this time last year.

The plan for 2013? We must continue to tell our stories to get the attention of the media and "the court of public opinion" that will ultimately sway all who have a hand in changing the course of history to make the right decisions for equality and justice for all.

Tell your story. Tammy and Sally did.

And so have dozens of other couples in the past month.

It's easy. Just complete this form.

We've been working with our friends at GetEQUAL to post at least two stories a week to our blogs and social networks.

When you see these stories in your newsfeeds, we ask that you please share them with your family, friends and colleagues.

As Amos Lim, our Community Outreach Director, said in our most recent press release.

"There is unbelievable power in these personal stories. So many people are unaware of the struggles same-sex binationals face. When they hear that DOMA and US immigration laws have forced people to choose between their spouse and their country, they stand up and say, ‘This is wrong. This is not American.’ And then, we hope, they will call or write Congress to demand change."

Tell your story. Charles and Mauricio did. 

Each of our stories are compelling and unique.

Take a few minutes now. Complete this form.

Help us present a picture to the American public, our judiciary, our legislators and our President that they cannot ignore. Join us in presenting our stories so that no one will ever force an American citizen to choose between their country and their spouse ever again.

To all of our members, our allies, our volunteers, we want to say thank you for the work you have done all year long to make the future look brighter than ever. We hope that by this time next year, everyone will be home for the holidays - those in exile, those living apart. Wherever you may be right now, we wish you a safe and healthy holiday season and we look forward to progress in equality in 2013. 

If you can, please make a donation to Out4Immigration through our  fiscal sponsor, Peace Development Fund.