More than 100 lawmakers, including one Republican sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry requesting that Diplomatic Spousal VISAs be denied when the diplomat is from a country which refuses to issue a spousal VISA to a
same sex spouse of an American Diplomat. The one lone Republican was Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla), shown in the center of the above photograph.
More than 100 lawmakers on Monday called upon the State Department to deny visas to the spouses of diplomats from countries that refuse to recognize the same-sex spouses of Foreign Service personnel.
U.S. Reps. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), who is the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) spearheaded the letter to Secretary of State John Kerry that 125 members of Congress signed.
This sounds like a good idea to me. If another country disrespects America so much that they will not issue a spousal VISA to a same sex spouse then why should we do so for them? This is not about whether that country recognizes or allows Marriage Equality but rather about simple respect for America and our laws. Diplomats always operate under different rules and expectations when traveling to a host country – this is no different, or at least shouldn’t be.
More below the fold.
Please see
here for full letter along with all of the signatories.
From FL Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen:
“We cannot look the other way when an American spouse — any American diplomatic spouse — is discriminated against in this way,” reads the letter. “If a foreign government refuses to issue the appropriate visa to same-sex spouses, we ask that the State Department reciprocate by denying a visa to the spouse of a diplomat from that country.”
Thank you Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for taking this stand!
The letter further notes reports the State Department “sometimes declines or discourages” LGBT Foreign Service personnel from “assignments to certain overseas posts due to anticipated objections from the host nation.” It highlights that some of the agency’s employees “have apparently been denied assistance when they try to bring their same-sex spouses into countries that do not recognize their marriages.”
“These decisions can hamper the professional growth of those FSOs (Foreign Service officers) and threaten the department’s ability to ensure that it can place the best, most qualified person in each position,” states the letter. “We urge the State Department to prioritize this issue by advocating for all American Foreign Service spouses, regardless of sexual orientation.”
Bold emphasis above is mine.
This is so true. Diplomats are often under tremendous pressure when visiting officials in another country and having their spouse there can be absolutely key and of paramount importance to offer support and lessen the negative emotional impact that is often experienced.
The bottom line is that there must be mutual respect in this regard. Anything less is an affront to the Diplomats entire mission!