Whenever Antje and I travel to Germany together, we always do a rehearsal of what she will say when re-entering the United States. Even though all her papers are in order, she is completely legal and hasn't done anything wrong, we both get that feeling of paranoia that she is going to be detained, some official paper won't be recognized or she will in some way be harassed. I am always waved through and sit on the other side waiting....Straight couples in similar circumstances get married, and residency and work permits follow immediately. Lesbian and gay couples do not have this right. Finally, now, more than three years later, I'm "all set" with a good job and the prospect of being sponsored for a green card. There is sadness too, though, as my relief about being able to live with the woman I love is mixed with missing my home country, family, and close friends. Being a binational couple is no easy in any case. Being a lesbian binational couple, however, adds unfair legal treatment to the challenges you have to overcome. (photo: LGIRTF, Immigration Equality archive) Read more Binational Lesbian Couple in Seattle Shares Their Story in Public Education Effort.

Tags: LGIRTF, Immigration Equality, gay immigration, equality