FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 18 , 2003 - 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 hailed Brazil's National Council on Immigration's decision to recognize same-sex binational couples for immigration purposes. The Council sets immigration policy for the country, and chose to recognize same-sex unions realized abroad as a means of granting immigration benefits to foreign partners from countries, states or cities that already offer recognition to same-sex couples. This makes Brazil the 16th country to grant this important benefit to its citizens.

"Latin American countries are advancing towards full equality for same-sex couples much faster than the Unites States is," said Leslie Bulbuk, co-founder of Love Sees No Borders. "Ironically, none of these countries represents itself as the 'land of the free' with 'liberty and justice for all.' It is time our legislators understand that our Founder's promise of the 'pursuit of happiness' was made to ALL Americans, not just to heterosexual Americans. Congress should stop placing international boundaries between people whose only 'sin' is to love each other."

This new ruling will enable binational couples who are able to enter into contracts such as marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships abroad to then use this union as proof of a relationship. This provision is also valid for city and county registries, such as ones currently offered by the City and County of San Francisco and the City of Buenos Aires. In addition to this document, couples will be subject to the usual procedures associated with sponsoring a spouse for immigration, including affidavits of support and showing means of supporting one's spouse, among others. It is unclear whether couples including a foreign partner from a country that does not grant recognition of same-sex relationships would benefit from this decision.

Brazil is the 16th country worldwide to grant such important benefits to same-sex couples. It is also the first Latin American country, and the second nation on the American Continent to do so, along with Canada. Other nations that grant same-sex immigration benefits are Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The Permanent Partners Immigration Act (H.R. 832, S. 1510), currently in both houses of Congress, would grant immigration benefits to same-sex binational couples in the U.S. When enacted, the bill would add the words "or permanent partner" every time the word "spouse" appears in immigration law. The bill would also define the term 'permanent partner' for immigration purposes.

"We receive this news with great joy because more loving people worldwide will have a chance to build a solid relationship without fearing cruel separation," said Marta Donayre, co-founder of Love Sees No Borders. "We congratulate activists in Brazil, the Council on Immigration, and the countless supporters of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Brazil. We hope that this great victory helps them in their fight for social acceptance, which is sadly behind its legal recognition of LGBT people."

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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