U.S. Says Will Give Equal Treatment to Visas From Gay Spouses

[Hissyspit]

Last edited Fri Aug 2, 2013, 10:54 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: Reuters

@Reuters: RT @ReutersUS: U.S. will treat visa applications from same-sex couples the same as heterosexual couples' applications: Secretary of State K.

U.S. says will give equal treatment to visas from gay spouses

Fri Aug 2, 2013 9:52am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - The United States will immediately begin considering visa applications of gay and lesbian spouses in the same manner as heterosexual couples, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday.

Kerry made the announcement at the U.S. Embassy in London.

"When same-sex couples apply for a visa, the Department of State will consider that application in the same manner that it considers the application of opposite sex spouses," Kerry said shortly after his arrival in London.

"If you are the spouse of a U.S. citizen, your visa application will be treated equally. If you are the spouse of a non-citizen, your visa application will be treated equally. If you are in a country that doesn't recognize your same-sex marriage, then your visa application will still be treated equally at every single one of our 222 visa processing centers around the world," he added.

The move comes after the Obama administration urged all U.S. agencies to review their polices after the U.S. Supreme Court in June struck down a key part of the federal law that defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE9710NT20130802

[think]

1. That's awesome :)

[PatSeg]

2. This is great news!

[dipsydoodle]

3. Be interesting to see if the promise is kept.

Other promises do not appear to have been kept.

[blm]

4. Kerry was advocating for this for over a decade as senator.

He is now in a position to assure it happens.

[Hekate]

5. What part of Kerry's statements show wiggle room? He says this is now what the agencies must do.

The processes set in motion at the beginning of the first Obama administration are now working their way through the system.

Possibly some people, having declared themselves thrown under the bus at the outset, still feel comfy in that position.

[Ms. Toad]

9. I hope you'll consider deleting your last sentence.

It is a bit insulting.

There are many unanswered questions at this point. The Supreme Court decision does not, on its face, mandate Federal recognition of same gender marriages across the board. It isn't even clear really what it requires, so there is a lot of wiggle room - generally - about federal treatment of same gender marriages. This particular action is a change in practice which could just as easily be undone.

I don't particularly think it will be undone, because I think it is pretty clear that once our marriages start being treated as routine most of the opposition will melt away. But that is my opinion - not law, or political certainty. Others may well differ and it is rude to treat those with longstanding legitimate concerns as imagining years of discrimination (including by this administration) and enjoying being a victim.

[closeupready]

6. So glad to hear this. Will dramatically improve the lives

of thousands of people. K&R

[Politicub]

7. Great news

This means a lot to many people.

[hrmjustin]

8. K&R!

[libodem]

10. Great news

[theHandpuppet]

11. A big K&R

Thanks for passing along this great news.

[Tx4obama]

12. K&R :) n/t