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I don’t even know what to say other than my story. I am more than overwhelmed by emotions about this topic. I will do everything in my power to help my partner and continue living a happy live, be it where it may.

A few I have spoken to in Congress have stated that CIR if will be incorporating UAFA putting our Bill together with more complex issues. Four congressional reps have informed me directly that they think with UAFA in CIR, we are losing the chance of UAFA as a stand alone and if CIR (with UAFA incorporated) does not make it- we stand no chance after that.

I am worried that strategy and focus on CIR as mentioned by Ralls herein is usurping whats left of our chances.

I have asked myself so many times, how long must we wait, how long must we be discriminated against, how long must we live in exile because America won’t accept two University educated women just wanting to work and live a peaceful happy life? How long? How long? How long?

We lived in Germany together for 4 1/2 years and have been living in the UK for over 2 1/2 years. I only thank the Universe that there are countries that don’t discriminate and let us live openly and happily. But… why did I have to leave the country that I love? Why? Why? Why? Sometimes I really don’t understand politics, mankind, or the people running America.

I miss my family and friends. I miss my old work buddies. I miss America. Today, I was singing in the kitchen while cooking dinner, it’s a grand old flag, it’s a high flying flag… Just out of the blue, like you do. My partner said you are so patriotic.

Now as I write this and ponder the past few years, I wonder why I am still so attached to a country that really kicked me in the behind! Yet I still want to return with my partner to make a life together.

It only included self-reported bi-national same sex couples living in the States. Totally left out were couples living out of the country, separated, or living in the States but ‘in the shadows’ under the threat of deportation or who for other reasons could not risk self-reporting. We’ve got to bring our number up to a more realistic count.

The original study can be found at: http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/Binational_Report.pdf

A more robust, realistic figure of almost 100,000 was recently estimated based on the exact same assumptions, percentages, and original sources that were employed in the 2000 study.

See http://www.unitingamericanfamilies.net/status-of-uafa/how-many-of-us-are-there/

Although most LGBT Americans are unaware of our plight, as were so many of us who only learn of it when we land in it, it is reasonable to assert that ‘it could happen to you’ – potentially any LGBT American could conceivable join our ranks. So really, the number isn’t really what’s relevant. What should matter is that the discrimination affecting bi-national couples will become their reality should they find themselves in a serious, long term relationship with a foreign national. That’s why it’s so important to realize that this is an equality issue. LGBT Americans are only allowed to love and partner other Americans. They are not permitted to sponsor foreign partners. This reality should be felt as the insult it is — to all LGBT citizens. Do they realize their ability to partner is circumscribed in this manner?

Until we will hear otherwise, advocacy groups and others citing the 36,000 figure should take care to use it with an advisory. It was an under-count a decade ago and it is an even less reliable number now. It does not accurately reflect our presence in the population nor does it honestly reveal the extent of the potential reach of the harm it presents to LGBT Americans.