Back in May I briefly mentioned a documentary making the film festival rounds and still in the post-production stages called Through Thick and Thin. The film's director, Sebastian Cordoba, was being profiled in The Advocate for a series of articles on immigration and the LGBT community in the June 6th issue (co-producer Lavi Soloway's blog is on the right)The documentary drew my attention not only because it portrays the wrenching situation faced by hundreds of gay couples around the United States when one partner is a United States citizen or resident and the other is neither, but also because one of the couples featured in the film are my friends Tom and Emilio (pictured).
Well, Tom has just joined the blogosphere with Canadian Hope and Emilio is running it's Spanish language companion Esperanza Canadiense (added to my links on the right).
As Tom writes "We are a bi-national couple living in New Jersey, USA. We've struggled for almost 5 years just to remain together. Earlier this year we were inspired to apply for residency in Canada because we yearn to be free, equal and safe from the tyranny of the right. This blog will be a mix of our immigration process, our daily lives and topics of interest like politics and religion."
A year ago, when I launched this blog, several friends (and bloggers) greeted me with open arms. So I say, still hoping that Tom and Emilio will somehow resolve their situation and be able to stay in the United States, welcome to the blogosphere! Love you guys!
UPDATES:
- Emilio gets final word from immigration court (December 19, 2006)
- The United States vs. Emilio (December 21, 2006)
Posts
3 comments:
Thanks Andresito, We love you! Family and friends are the hardest part of the decision...
Que interesante! I didn't know about this film, I have to check it out. Mi pareja, Mr. Gordo, is also Venezuelan, although currently on a secure visa status, he does not have permanent residency and we, of course, cannot marry, which means we have been focused in the almost 5 years we have been together on jobs, jobs, jobs, to maintain his visa status (and faced some momentikos of crisis when it seemed like that would fall through), which kinda sucks (to say the least), as well as directly affects how we can (or cannot) imagine our future(s) together.
When some LGBT folks huff and puff and say, "Well, I don't want to get married," I have to remind them it's more than just about bourgeois propriety! It's about RIGHTS!
From the inability to consecrate our relationship to having to use different lines at Customs and Immigration, the abuses heaped upon LGBT couples of same-sex are really beyond the pale, and we too have thought seriously about emigrating to Canada.
Im in the same position as them..im a Native American and my gf its Brazilian . We been in a relationship for over 6 yrs and we r still trying to be together . She comes to see me back and forth and ive been doing the same thing . Im here to show my support and hope that we all have one day the same rights ...
Luv,
Amy
Post a Comment