Dear Representative,

I am writing to you to ask for your support by becoming a co-sponsor of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA; HR 1024; S 424) sponsored in the House by Rep. Jerrold Nadler and the Senate by Sen. Patrick Leahy.

The Uniting American Families Act simply seeks to provide gay and lesbian U.S. citizens and permanent residents the right to sponsor their partners for immigration. It includes the same process and penalties as applied in heterosexual sponsorship applications. By
co-sponsoring the UAFA you are showing your dedication to equality and the belief that no American should be forced to choose between their country and the person they love.

As you may be aware, these Americans in loving and committed relationships are often forced to make heartbreaking decisions to maintain their relationship. More often than not, these include having to leave the United States in order to be with the person they love. These American citizens are forced to give up careers, leave behind aging parents and young adult children who rely on them and leave a community which benefits from their ongoing and active participation. Below you can read a personal story which has happened to a member of our community.

Leandro Coutinho met his husband during Gay Pride 1998. They became domestic partners in August 2000, and married in June 2008, (at that time as soon as California law allowed). If they were a heterosexual couple, Leandro's husband would have sponsored him for his green card in the year 2000, and he would be an American Citizen by now. Unfortunately, U.S. immigration law doesn’t recognize same-sex couples for immigration purposes, and the United American Families Act (UAFA) is the only bill that addresses this discriminatory issue.

Leandro was a student when he arrived in the United States, and in December 2005, he graduated as a Registered Nurse. The hospital he was working for sponsored him for his green card, but unfortunately, his lawyer submitted his application with an expired form. For this reason, the U.S. Immigration denied his green card petition. Leandro have spent over 30 thousand dollars trying to fix his lawyer’s mistake, but without success. Consequently, Leandro and his husband will have to exile to Leandro's country where he can sponsor his husband for his residency. While some couples are fortunate to be able to exile to another country, others don’t have this option, because their countries don’t recognize same-sex relationships. These couples suffer persecution, and having no other option, other than breaking U.S. law with an arranged marriage; they choose to stay here illegally.

Leandro and his husband have always followed the law. They have paid more taxes, and contributed to American society like any other heterosexual couple. It is unfortunate that the USA is loosing their highly qualified citizens due to unnecessary and discriminatory immigration policies. During the past decade, Leandro could not to attend the funerals of his four aunts and his stepbrother, for fear of not being allowed to come back to the United States. Leandro is leaving the country, and he doesn't know if he will be able to come back soon, unless the UAFA is passed in both the Congress and the Senate.

Thank you for your consideration on this important matter.

Sincerely,

[Your name here]