Love Sees No Borders - IRC Resolution

San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission Supports Same-Sex Immigration
Commissioners Support Binational Couples in Their Struggle For Recognition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 20, 2002 - Love Sees No Borders, an educational organization focused on raising awareness of the plight of same-sex binational couples and their fight to remain together, today congratulated the City and County of San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission (IRC) for officially supporting the Permanent Partners Immigration Act (PPIA), H.R. 690, which has been stalled in Congress for over two years.

In its resolution, the IRC acknowledges that over half of all immigrant visas issued annually go to family members of U.S. citizens and residents, but that same-sex binational couples are excluded because their partnerships are not recognized for immigration purposes. This lack of recognition needlessly tears countless couples apart. According to the IRC, the PPIA "seeks to recognize the reality that lesbian and gay couples are deserving of the same basic immigration rights as heterosexuals." According to the Commission, the PPIA is "an appropriate next step toward establishing equality in immigration standards" for same-sex couples. The IRC, through the Mayor of San Francisco and the Board of Supervisors, officially supports the passage of the PPIA.

"Every time government agencies such as the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission take bold steps, society advances and all benefit," said Leslie Bulbuk, co-founder of Love Sees No Borders. "The City and County of San Francisco, along with the adjacent Bay Area, is well known for having bold and progressive politicians who seek to provide equality and justice for all. I sincerely hope that San Francisco's lead will be followed by other towns and cities and that Congress also embraces equality and passes the Permanent Partners Immigration Act."

About Love Sees No Borders
Love Sees No Borders is an organization dedicated to promoting awareness of the plight of same-sex binational couples in the United States. Our work includes media outreach, public speaking and other educational activities. For more information about the organization and how to support our efforts through a donation, please visit www.loveseesnoborders.org.