Dear Friend,

Together, we succeeded in forcing the State Department to change its discriminatory policy against LGBTQ families. The government was treating the children of married same-sex couples as if they were born out of wedlock, and then denying them U.S. citizenship. 

Together, we sued in four federal courts for recognition of citizenship for the children of queer couples—and won.  

Together, hundreds of us petitioned the Biden Administration just last week to reform its policy.  

The law was always on our side—and now the State Department must rescind its unconstitutional policy. We could not have done this without your support. Please contribute in honor of this remarkable victory, and to propel us to future wins.

When Allison and Stefania came to us for help in 2017, their son Lucas was just two years old. Even though Allison was a U.S. citizen, the State Department refused to recognize Lucas’s citizenship simply because her wife Stefania, an Italian citizen, was the one who carried him.

Around the same time, Andrew, a U.S. citizen and his husband Elad, an Israeli citizen contacted us. They became fathers to twin boys, Aiden and Ethan, through surrogacy. But only Aiden—who was biologically related to Andrew—was recognized as a citizen.

In 2018, with the invaluable assistance of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, we joined these brave families in filing lawsuits against the State Department and its discriminatory policy. Those initial cases kicked off the campaign that led to this victory three years later.

Thank you for sticking with us and our client families through the years. You made this win happen, and we need your help to keep advancing the rights of LGBTQ immigrants and families. Will you make a gift in honor of what we accomplished together?

When the State Department didn’t budge, in 2019, we joined forces with Lambda Legal and Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius LLP to sue on behalf of two more families and their young daughters—Kessem and Simone.  

Because of your support, we won our battle against the State Department yesterday! Now, Lucas, Ethan, Kessem, Simone, and all other children like them will be able to enjoy their rights as U.S. citizens from birth.

Thank you on behalf of the families and Immigration Equality for helping us get past the finish line. 

Sincerely,
Aaron C. Morris, Executive Director
Immigration Equality