This year, Immigration Equality celebrates an exciting milestone: 25 years of victories! And I’m so grateful I’ve had the opportunity to serve the LGBTQ and HIV-positive community here for half of those years. It is a big honor to give our clients the gift of hope every day—to protect their families, to help them find safe haven from persecution, and to support them in living out their dreams.
Through it all, I have seen this organization's determination to fight for individuals and force systemic change, and that’s how I know this is just the beginning of another 25 years of life-saving work for us.
I know this sounds very recent, but I’m not talking about last year. I’m remembering 2008. The president was George W. Bush—and also the year I started taking cases at Immigration Equality. Despite what seemed like an intractable political stalemate that year, we secured sufficient support to overturn the 22-year ban on HIV-positive immigrants.
For 25 years, Immigration Equality has proven progress is always possible. No matter who is in the White House.
Now, as in decades past, our community faces what seem like insurmountable obstacles. But at Immigration Equality, time and time again we always find a way forward.
Every time we sue the U.S. government to protect a same-sex couple, we do so with the hope that all families will one day be treated with dignity and equality.
Each LGBTQ refugee who is granted asylum through our free legal services is given the hope to live as their true selves in safety and freedom.
And every time we secure policy reform or draft a bill with a member of Congress, we do so knowing that today’s hope can become tomorrow’s reality.
Thank you for everything you do for LGBTQ immigrants.
Aaron C. Morris, Executive Director Immigration Equality
Immigration Equality is a registered 501(c)(3) organization (EIN: 13-3802711) and a proud participant in the Combined Federal Campaign (member number 40016). All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
