I recently had the pleasure of attending my first gay wedding. It was as meaningful and special as any of the other weddings I have been to. Families and close friends of the couple were gathered, vows were exchanged before a minister, and warm-hearted toasts were made by family members.
Despite the fact that same-sex marriage is recognized in Massachusetts, same-sex US Citizens cannot petition for permanent residence for their foreign-born spouses. Most presidential candidates who I have heard oppose gay marriage would favor civil unions as an alternative. Supposedly, this would give partners united in civil unions the same legal rights and obligations as married couples. Would this include the right to sponsor one’s foreign-born civilly united same-sex partner? I have not heard anyone address this issue.
It’s about time that we progress to the level of Canada and many European countries that freely allow same-sex couples to marry and to reap the same benefits enjoyed by “traditional” married couples.
I want equal rights now! I, as an American, live with my foreign-born partner in the Netherlands because we cannot legally live in the USA. Land of the free, my ass!