> Home
Marriage Equality Express
Stories
Events
Legislation
Resources
Media Coverage
Contact
Links
Be Counted!
The Love Exiles Foundation
"If the US recognized same-sex relationships like ours for the purpose of immigration, it would make for stronger families. My parents are now in their eighties. It's time for Tom and I to go care for them. What can we do? " - a US citizen living in Thailand
"As soon as she graduates, they'll kick her out of the country. We are both highly educated in areas sorely needed in technology and education. Does the world really not want us?" - a binational couple living in the US
Breaking news: UAFA hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee on June 3 Love Exiles, Immigration Equality and other civil rights organizations have been working towards this day for more than 7 years. Love Exiles was there.
See Shirley Tan's heartbreaking testimony of being arrested, detailed and faced with deportation and Gordon Stewart's powerful story of having to sell his home in the United States because his partner of 9 years cannot even get a tourist visa to visit the USA. Julian Bond of the NAACP speaks eloquently about the need to support family reunification, UAFA and RFA.
Must see: Senator Schumer of the Immigration subcommittee wants our families to gain access to legal immigration "Each person is valuable....that is why I am a sponsor of the Uniting American Families Act".
New Democrat Senator Specter (not yet a UAFA co-sponsor) announced his support at the hearing.
Lesbian mother deportation reprieve: 4 weeks ago today Lin and Martha McDevitt-Pugh of Love Exiles met binational couple Jay Mercado and Shirley Tan during a visit to family in San Francisco. Shirley and Jay are mothers of 12-year-old boys and reached out to Love Exiles for support. Today Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced an extraordinary legislative remedy that will keep Shirley and her family together until December 2010. More...
ACTION ALERT! Ask your U.S. Representative to co-sponsor the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). UAFA is being introduced in Congress on 12 February 2009 by Rep. Jerrold Nadler. It would allow a US citizen or resident to sponsor their same-sex partner for permanent US residency. It would give love exiles the chance to return home. More...
Protest Prop 8 / rally for full equality under the law, Saturday 15 November: Click here for video Last week the United States elected a new president who supports full equality for gays and lesbians. That same day, 52% of California voters supported Proposition 8, an initiative funded by churches that alters the state's constitution to take away the right of same-sex couples to marry and protect their families. (Dutch press release)
"Love a foreigner, leave the country", has been the reality for gays and lesbians throughout the Bush years. Saturday you can show your support in Amsterdam (and worldwide) for Californians who have lost their right to equality under the law -- and remind the new US leadership to keep their promise to support immigration rights for same-sex couples. More...
Amsterdam, 15 Nov 08 - Join the Impact
What do lesbians and gays who know Barack Obama have to say? Check out this video.
Love Exiles at the Democratic Convention. Board Member Bob Bragar is an Obama delegate to the Democratic Convention. Read his blog from Denver: The Dutch Delegate
Love Exiles Foundation Board Member Bob Bragar spoke on Dutch TV recently (intro in Dutch, interview in English; to view, click "BEKIJK ITEM") about his meeting with Barack Obama and what Obama had to say about Americans forced to leave the country to be with their partners.
Love Exiles Clamor for Equality, El Pais/International Herald Tribune, 5 March 2007.
Dutch Gays Advise American Democrats on family reunification. Love Exiles board members spoke at the Women's caucus and GLBT caucus of the Democratic National Committee meeting in Washington DC on February 2. It is time the United States honors the human rights of US citizens instead of sending them into exile.
Democrats Abroad France supports UAFA. Cross-country effort focuses on immigration law (article): "Uniting American Famlies Act concerns all who care about equal rights/inclusion for all Americans."
Love
in Exile: 
The
world is getting smaller and smaller; more and more people travel the
world, make friends, and meet lovers who sometimes become partners. But
most countries deny to bi-national same-sex couples the right of one partner
to sponsor the other for immigration, which different-sex married couples
take for granted. The Declaration
of Montreal
Cruel U.S. laws have forced thousands of gay binational couples to live abroad. It’s time to pass the Uniting American Families Act.
Family,
Unvalued report available
Washington based lobby organisation Human Rights Watch and New York-based
Immigration Equality issued a report
on the problems faced by thousands of U.S. citizens and their foreign-born
same-sex partners.
Thanks
a bunch, Mr. Mayor: and how equal rights for all
Five years ago the Netherlands became the first country opened up marriage
to same-sex couples. Love Exiles celebrated on 1 April 2006 in Amsterdam.
Mayor Cohen opened the event.
Democrats
Abroad unanimously passes resolution supporting immigration rights for
same-sex couples
Submitted by Love Exiles board member and Democrats Abroad International
Secretary Robert Checkoway, this resolution was approved on 4 March 2006
in Washington DC. It asks congress to pass the Uniting American Families
Act (UAFA).
Janherman
Veenker, 21 May 1950 - 15 November 2005
Love Exiles board member Janherman Veenker died in the presence of his
husband James Credle. The Love Exiles Foundation would like to extend
its gratefulness to James and Janherman’s family for sharing Janherman
with us and for contributing to making this wonderful man so great.
Biking
for equality
Love Exiles Chair Martha McDevitt-Pugh cycles 100 miles from Oakland to
Sacramento to ask Governor Schwarzenegger to sign the marriage law.
Miracles
do happen
Looking into the future as Spain and Canada
vote to give equal rights to same-sex couples.
About
the Love Exiles Foundation
The Love Exiles Foundation supports GLBT couples who have chosen or are
considering exile in order to be together and works for human rights for
same-sex couples and families.
Only 17 countries allow their citizens to sponsor their same-sex partner or spouse as legal immigrants: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
In the other 176 countries in the world, gay and lesbian citizens have no right to live legally together with their foreign partners. Committed partners are for all intents and purposes legal strangers.
Supporting
Couples and Families
Many same-sex couples choose to immigrate to a country that recognizes
their relationship for immigration purposes. They face the challenges
of leaving behind their homes, communities, families, jobs and careers
to start a new life.
Love Exiles supports these families and educates the public about the issues same-sex couples face.
There are Love Exiles groups in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
If you'd like more information, to join a group, or to volunteer, contact us.
<a href="/" title="Click here to see who's linking to this site.">