Ten Ways the Law Harms the LGBT Community
9 of 10
Immigration laws prevent bi-national couples from being together.
Immigrating into the United States is difficult. Recognizing the value and importance of intact families, the law allows U.S. citizens to sponsor their spouses, making them eligible for so-called green cards, which allow them to live and work in the United States permanently.
Not so for same-sex couples. In most states, same-sex couples aren’t permitted to marry. But even in states where full marriage equality has been achieved, the “immediate family member” option isn’t available as a way of (re)uniting same-sex couples — because, again, thanks (no thanks) to DOMA. Because immigration law is federal, DOMA applies, and it declares same-sex marriages null and void.
