Love Perseveres Above All Things :: A Personal Look at How Immigration Laws Affect the LGBT Community
While the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) allows U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to sponsor their spouses and other members of their immediate family for immigration into the United States, gay men and lesbians do not have the same right to sponsor their same-sex partners. With President George Bush pushing lawmakers to move forward on immigration legislation, it is essential that gays and lesbians take a stand as many struggles endured by the LGBT community have largely been forgotten or ignored in the immigration debate.
Because same-sex partners are denied the right to marry, they are not afforded equal rights under the immigration law. Film director Sebastian Cordoba captures this harsh reality and pain inflicted upon LGBT Americans and their foreign partners in his powerful documentary "Through Thick & Thin".
Introduced to the United States House of Representatives on May 8, 2007, The United American Families Act allows same-sex partners to be united legally through the U.S. immigration process. The bill adds the term "permanent partner" to the law’s definition of family members. By adding this term, same-sex partners of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are eligible for green cards and immigrant visas.
Sebastian Cordoba knows first hand the struggles faced by immigrants in the United States and hopes his documentary will help bring gay and lesbians to the forefront of the immigration debate. "Through Thick & Thin" focuses on seven bi-national gay couples who are desperately struggling to stay together and remain optimistic, even as some fight deportation orders.
Mark and Fred are one of thousands of couples wishing for The United American Families Act to pass sooner than later. Their children’s lives depend on it. Mark is from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Fred is from France. They have been together for 15 years and have a beautiful home and two kids. Fred has been able to stay in the country through student and work visas. When his last visa came to an end without the possibility of renewal, they faced dire choices. Going back to France is not an option, since the French law won’t consider the kids French and they will have to leave every six months. This burden has forced the couple to burn through their savings, sell their home and face the possibility of living apart and splitting the children.
"Through Thick & Thin" is an emotional and educational journey. Despite advances that some states offer such as civil unions, domestic partnerships and marriages, these benefits are null and void when it comes to immigration. Sebastian Cordoba has taken a stand and through his passion he hopes to ignite a fire with the LGBT community.
