The Defense of Marriage Act complicates a couple’s ability to plan for their future.
By LeAnne Gendreau, NBC Connecticut
Sen. Richard Blumenthal is supporting lesbian couple in Connecticut
Kelli Ryan and her wife Lucy Truman have been together for 10 years and they are legally married in Connecticut, but there are no guarantees that they can stay together forever in the United States.
The issue is that Lucy is a native of the United Kingdom and the federal Defense of Marriage Act does not recognize same-sex marriages.
Because of that, the federal government is not likely to approve the couple’s green card application for Lucy unless officials agree to hold off on as lawmakers debate the Defense of Marriage Act. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday voted in favor of a bill that would repeal DOMA.
Lucy, an ENT surgeon and post-doctorate fellow at Yale, is in the United States legally on a work visa.
But, without a green card, Lucy has to apply for a visa every two years and her immigration status hinges on her being employed.
“If I do not have employment with Yale, I cannot stay in this county,” Lucy said. “(The visa) is not permanent and does not give us a huge amount of security.”
They’ve been apart before and it takes an emotional toll, Lucy said.
[read more on NBC Connecticut]
