Dear Friend,

I am a lawyer. I am also a mom. My wife, Stefania, and I sued the State Department for denying our right as a married same-sex couple to pass on citizenship to our son Lucas.

The government doesn’t recognize Lucas as a citizen because my wife Stefania, an Italian citizen, carried him. They claim that Lucas must be biologically related to me, a U.S. citizen, for me to pass on citizenship. Take it from the lawyer in me: their policy is unconstitutional.

Soon, a federal judge will decide whether our legal challenge against the State Department will move forward, or if their discriminatory policy will stand without a challenge. Really, what the judge is deciding is whether our son Lucas should enjoy the same rights as his brother, Massi.

It doesn’t matter which one of us carried our children. We are both their mothers, and because we’re married, they are clearly both U.S. citizens. Stefania and I will not rest until the State Department recognizes this. And we are lucky to know that Immigration Equality will be there with us every step of the way.