Members of Out4Immigration joined thousands of others duringa Labor Day march of solidarity urging a change in the nation's policy thatdenies same-sex binational couples the same rights heterosexuals receive with marriage.

"Under federal law, my partner and I are legalstrangers," said Mickey Lim, vice president of Out4Immigration, whosepartner is from Singapore but currently is in the country on a work visa."I have no right to petition the government to get a green card forhim."

Lim and other members of the fledgling Out4Immigration metat Justin Herman Plaza to march Monday morning, as did thousands of people in17 cities across the nation, including Oakland and San Jose.

Marchers said that by organizing they hoped to send amessage to President Bush and Congress about the vital role immigrants have inthe nation's economy - and demand that any immigration reform legislationbeing put forward in the months to come be fair and humane for all. It isunclear whether legislation will be finalized in the weeks before Congressbreaks for recess. The House and Senate are far apart on immigration reform,and Republican congressional leaders are unlikely to put the issue on theagenda, according to published reports this week.

Current federal law prohibits U.S. citizens from sponsoringtheir partner of the same gender for a green card. Citizens with partners ofthe opposite sex can, however. According to information provided byOut4Immigration, 19 countries recognize LGBT couples for the purpose ofimmigration - the U.S. is not one of them.

The San Francisco group was formed in February to addressthe widespread discriminatory impact of U.S. immigration laws on the lives ofLGBT and HIV-positive people and their families.

"I am here to show solidarity about the wholeimmigration rights picture and particularly to raise LGBT issues, which aretotally excluded from the existing law," said Belinda Ryan, anOut4Immigration marcher. Ryan is an immigrant from Wales and is in the countryon a work visa, which is due to expire soon.

Two men who have been partnered for 29 years joined themarch. One is a U.S. citizen living in San Francisco while the other is fromthe Netherlands and is HIV-positive. They asked that their names not bepublished.

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