The International Academy of Family Lawyers and
the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers condemn the decision of the US
State Department to restrict G-4 visas to married persons and to end, as of
October 1, 2018, the previous policy allowing same-sex domestic partners to
qualify.
The G-4 visa is used by foreign diplomats and
employees of international organizations to live in the US. Since 2009 it
has been necessary for such persons to provide evidence of marriage in order
for their immediate family members to qualify for G-4 status. Recognizing
that marriage for same-sex couples is allowed in only a small number of
countries, the US has until now extended G-4 status to same-sex domestic
partners. The recent directive by the State Department brings an
immediate halt to that valuable accommodation for non-married but coupled
diplomats and employees.
The effect of this decision is to discriminate
against same-sex couples from countries that do not allow or recognize same-sex
marriage. It will effectively prevent members of the LGBTI community from
certain countries from living and working in the US and will have a significant
negative impact on the diversity of organizations, including the United
Nations. Moreover, it puts at risk diplomats and employees of
international organizations who could be discriminated against, abused and/or
criminally prosecuted by their own governments if they married in the US in an
effort to maintain their G-4 status. This new rule is a deeply
troublesome and retrograde step which erodes the civil rights gains of recent
years.
Both the International Academy of Family
Lawyers and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers call for this decision
to be immediately reversed. Both organizations reaffirm their support of
efforts towards full equality of the LGBTI community throughout the world and
the end to rules that unfairly discriminate against such individuals and, in
many countries, criminalize countless couples because of the ones they
love.
Disclosure
I am a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, and a member of its LGBT Committee.
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