On Current TV | June 05, 2008 | Comment on this video (28)

Let My Partner Stay

interrobang
Because same-sex marriages are not recognized in the United States, certain marital benefits, like the advantage of permanent residency for a foreign born partner, are denied to bi-national spouses. This commonly results in the foreign partner being forced to leave the United States, and their loved ones, behind. Brittany and Joanna's story is one of thousands.
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28 comments // Let My Partner Stay // Video

  • mary_loves_you2010
    • 0
      mary_loves_you2010  

    • I really really really like this vod. It made me cry my eyes out because I know exactly how they feel. And I really hate living in this country because of the reactions I get from the people who don't like the fact that I am a lesbian and I know that I can't get married to my partner..even though I am single currently but I know that evenutally when I get with someone I want to spend the rest of my life with I wont be able to get married to her or have the benefits that we need in this economy we live in today. I hope that everyone who hasn't seen this will and when they do they will feel differently about how our United States government it treating people that aren't straight. And that weren't born here or raised here!

      ~Mary-Elizabeth~

    • 2 years ago
  • brittars
    • 0
      brittars  

    • lamb4eternity: Unfortunately state-by-state legislation does not include residential partner sponsorship, and as far as I know (from the sort of urban legend warnings of others who've tried it) you can actually make matters worse for yourself by attempting to do so. Immigration is a federal issue so without the passage of some form of legislation like UAFA (http://www.hrc.org/laws_and_elections/6985.htm) there will be no way for same-sex partners to sponsor one another in the states. It's why I ended up moving to New Zealand. I'm there with Jo now, which is a fairly happy ending to our story although I miss home a lot. We hope to move back to the states when it's legal. In the meantime for you and your partner your only option would be to sponsor her for residency in Australia, or for you to somehow acquire a work permit that you could continuously update to stay in America. Good luck whatever happens. For now I think we just need to watch UAFA and when it's brought to the forefront of American politics we all need to be supporting its passage in whatever way we can, from wherever we are.

    • 3 years ago
  • lamb4eternity
    • 0
      lamb4eternity  
    • brittars:

      cheers brittars ty for letting me know hun im glad you and
      jo have a happy ending to your story and i do think the governments need to take notice that we are human beings just like the str8 world and just bcoz we fall in love with the same sex doesnt give them the right to say we can not be with our partners i have applied for a green card for 2yrs and im still waiting on a reply i was accepted for an esta but thts only for 3months grrr why does it have to be so hard to be with the one we love you wouldnt happen to know abt canadas laws would you i been tryn to check them out to? anyway i hope you and jo have all the happiness in the world hun may you both have a wonderfull life together xx cheer LB

    • 3 years ago
  • lamb4eternity
    • 0
      lamb4eternity  

    • this article is really sad damm governments and there pollitics my question is tho would it be the same if you lived in a state where same sex marriage is legal im from australia and me and my partner who lives in the states want to move to iowa where the marriage would be legal could i get a residency there????

    • 3 years ago
  • interrobang
    • 0
      interrobang  
    • lamb4eternity:

      Unfortunately no. Citizenship is a federal matter. So even though the marriage may be recognized in a particular state, it will not be recognized on a federal level...meaning the United States government does not recognize the marriage and would not provide the same rights as with a marriage between a man and a woman. Not yet, at least.

    • 3 years ago
  • mistarmookie
  • kazzadrask
    • 0
      kazzadrask  

    • Thank you for making this video! What's most heartbreaking about Brittany & Joanna's story is that they are not alone -- there are more than 35,000 same-sex binational couples in the US; many of whom await the same fate as shown in the video. In fact, many couples aren't "lucky" enough to have a country that values their relationship (like New Zealand) to welcome them.

      Please visit the website: http://www.out4immigration.org or our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Out4Immigration/12679459084
      to join a group that is raising awareness about same-sex binational couples in the US and offers support.

      Kathy
      Volunteer Media Coordinator
      Out4Immigration, kathy@out4immigration.org

    • 3 years ago
  • tarawr
    • 0
      tarawr  

    • very touching story..its so sad how the US seems to fall behind other countries on granting rights to everyone...but I guess it is slowly progressing since Cali recently allowed it

    • 3 years ago
  • eco_girl
    • 0
      eco_girl  

    • This really tugs at my heart string. I hope the day comes this country acknowledges gay/lesbian marriage.

      Good luck to the both of you!

    • 3 years ago
  • slickshow
  • shae694202004
    • 0
      shae694202004  

    • so sad that they have to be apart for so long and leave everything that they love just to be together. its beautiful that they share a love so strong that they are willing to give up everything for eachother. so sad that we as americans can be so close minded and stubbron. to me love is love regardless of the color of your skin or weather it be two girls or guys. i say to each its own. do what makes you happy. all we can hope for is in the end it will all work itself out. i wish them the best of luck in all that they do together.

    • 3 years ago
  • love_exile
  • Ben_Franklin
    • 0
      Ben_Franklin  

    • To brittars: This is a really touching story. It's horrible that you have to leave the US to be with the woman you love. But I'm glad that you'll be together again soon! Good luck in NZ!

    • 3 years ago
  • 31183
  • Tam11
    • 0
      Tam11  

    • I feel like I just watched my life on this computer screen.
      The only difference is, I'm an Aussie... Not Kiwi. :)

    • 3 years ago
  • kcfoxie
    • 0
      kcfoxie  

    • Last night, my partner and I were at the hospital [for 10 hours] in the US. We are both from the US. I was relieved that I wasn't told to leave the ER room because I was not direct family, the respect that we got was a sigh of relief.

      Seeing this, reminds me of why I can understand how Michelle Obama said she was only now truly proud of this country. Many days I literally cry myself to sleep, because this land built around freedom is anything but in so many ways.

    • 3 years ago
  • Candina
    • 0
      Candina  

    • The song that she sings at the end of this pod is very beautiful. Did she write that? If so it is very moving and heart felt.

    • 3 years ago
  • shroomfairy
    • 0
      shroomfairy  

    • It is so sad that someone who wants to be here legally can not but we have tons of illegals who are here every day working all they want.

    • 3 years ago
  • KarlitoMosquito
    • 0
      KarlitoMosquito  

    • This is a heartbreaking pod! I am not gay but my mom is and I can't imagine her having to leave her country to be with the one she loves. My heart goes out to every gay couple going through this!!!!

    • 3 years ago
  • brittars
    • 0
      brittars  

    • Hey I'm glad you guys saw this video and liked it. This is Brittany, from the documentary. I'm finally going to NZ (in 17 days) and I can't freaking wait.

      In the meantime if anybody's interested, the song at the end of this vid is one of my originals. It can be downloaded for free at myspace.com/brittanykusserow and there are more songs available for purchasing, or just listening.

      Please check it out!

    • 3 years ago
  • justbeu57
    • 0
      justbeu57  
    • brittars:

      Thanks for sharing your story with America. In doing so, you help others see why it is important to allow all Americans to live and love freely and fully, without barriers. Love is the most important thing we have to share with one another in this world of ours...our most precious commodity...

      Good Luck to you both..I am sorry you have to leave America just to live your lives together, here's hoping change will come in the States in our life times...New Zeland will bring wonderful experiences.

      I truly loved your song at the end of the video...keep singing!!!

    • 3 years ago
  • tashai
  • tashai
  • ashgallagher
  • mark_monroe
  • SisterSafetyPin
    • 0
      SisterSafetyPin  

    • I just saw this POD on tv and I felt their pain in my heart, It's so sad, how we GBLT people are treated in America. It's like, our money is good enough for this country but our emotional well being isn't.

    • 3 years ago
  • PoisonTheMonkey
  • lemonsun12
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