SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 10, 2001 - Love Sees No Borders, the recently established organization focused on raising awareness of the plight of same-sex binational couples and their fight to remain together, today announced that same-sex binational couples are facing dire consequences as a result of the terrorist attacks of Sept 11.

"The Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered community is not immune to what is happening in the country due to the attacks," said Marta Donayre of Love Sees No Borders. "Binational same-sex couples already found themselves in a precarious situation before the attacks, and the worsening of the economy and the toughening of regulations only made it worse for loving committed couples who just want to be together. With no recourse to sponsor their foreign partners, Americans in same-sex binational relationships find themselves facing potentially escalating difficulties right now."

The policy and economic obstacles brought upon same-sex binational couples are:
· Freezing by the Immigration and Naturalization Service of all applications and petitions of visas.
· The current economic conditions, tremendously worsened by the attacks, place H-1B visa, or work visa, holders in a more precarious situation with no job stability whatsoever. It is estimated that a large percentage of same-sex binational couples rely on H-1B visas to remain together in the U.S.
· Extreme proposals submitted by the White House severely narrows degrees of separation from suspected terrorists that innocent foreigners in same-sex relationships may find themselves in jails right now.
· Overall re-hauling of the INS is certainly distracting an already thin staff from their existing procedures and duties, delaying the response times in nonterrorist-related cases.

Unlike opposite-sex couples, Americans in same-sex relationships are unable to sponsor their foreign partners for immigration purposes. The additional hurdles brought about by the terrorist attacks have the potential to bring added suffering to a group already discriminated against in many ways. The passage of the Permanent Partners Immigration Act, H.R. 690, would alleviate the suffering these couples have by guaranteeing that their families can remain together in the U.S., and providing Americans in same-sex relationships the basic human right to build a family of their choosing in their homeland.

"Binational same-sex couples compose a very invisible segment of society because fear of INS reprisals include possible deportation," said Donayre. "It is not right that people are submitted to this cruel and unusual punishment simply because they are in same-sex relationships."

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.

Note to Editors: Leslie Bulbuk is a woman.
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