Where Gay Immigration is Legal

Updated: February 13, 2009

There are currently 19 countries with gay immigration policies that allow sponsorship of same-sex partners. These countries include:

Australia
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Denmark
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Iceland
Israel
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom

Many of these countries also allow same-sex marriage.

What about the United States?
The Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 prohibits federal recognition of same-sex couples in the U.S. and therefore, gay binational couples are not recognized for immigration purposes.

In response to America's lag in gay immigration rights, the Uniting American Families Act was re-introduced to the House and Senate by Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) on February 12, 2009. The bill seeks to broaden immigration laws by allowing U.S. citizens and legal residents to sponsor their same-sex partners for residence.

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Gay World Tour - Russia

Gay Life in Russia:

Gay, lesbian and transgender people aren't widely accepted in Russia, a post-Soviet nation with a population of nearly 143 million. The estimated number of LGBT Russians is unknown.

Russian political and social life is heavily influenced by the conservative traditions and extreme sexual restrictions of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Gays are often attacked and ridiculed on the streets of Russia and therefore many live in secret. In the last few years, mostly due to the demands and openness of younger gay and straight generations, Russian society is slowly becoming more tolerant of LGBT people. Major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg now have LGBT clubs and venues.

The Russian slang term for a gay man is "blue" (goluboy) and "pink" (rozovaya) for lesbians.

For more on gay life in Russia, visit Gay.ru, a project of Russian National LGBT center "Together".

Gay Rights in Russia:

Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Russian officials decriminalized homosexuality in April of 1993, following the lead of post-Soviet republics Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, and Belarus. The move was necessary to gain Western support and to become a member of the Council of Europe. Prior to 1993, same-sex acts were punishable by prison terms of up to five years through Article 121 of the Russian criminal code. Gays and lesbians were also subjected to torture and psychiatric treatment. Today, being gay or lesbian in Russia is no longer illegal, but still considered a "perversion".

Government Opinion of Gays:

In February 2007, Mayor Yuri Luzhkov banned what was to be the first gay pride parade in Moscow. Mayor Yuri Luzhkov believed homosexuality was unnatural and described same-sex love as "satanic". He also believed a gay pride festival in Moscow would cause public outcry.

In response, gay rights groups sued the city unsuccessfully. Organizers held the parade anyway. The illegal festival ended in violence. Approximately 100 religious and nationalist extremists attacked festivals participants and 200 gays were also arrested for violating the ban.

Festival organizer Nikolai Alexeyev told the BBC's World Today, "This event was just the opportunity for us to say no to homophobia and to attract the media attention to this problem and to attract the attention of the authorities."

Weeks before the festival, 39 right-wing and religious activists were arrested for picketing and shouting slurs at patrons leaving a gay nightclub.

Gay Marriage in Russia:

Same-sex marriage is illegal in Russia. Marriage traditions are heavily influenced by the Russian Orthodox Church, which sees homosexuality as a perversion. (Also read Gay Marriage Around the World)

Gay Adoption in Russia:

For the same aforementioned reasons, gay and lesbian couple adoption is not allowed. In addition, the State Duma makes intercountry adoption very difficult. (More on Adoption in Russia)

HIV in Russia:

According to About.com HIV/AIDS guide Mark Cichocki, "The Cold War has been over for years. But for the people of what used to be the mighty Soviet Union the battle against HIV has yet to begin. Russia is in the midst of an HIV epidemic expanding at a frightening pace." Read more of Mark's feature report on HIV Around the World - The Russian Federation.

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Before Your Gay Wedding

Follow these planning steps 10-12 months before the date of your gay marriage or commitment ceremony. Create a planning notebook with a calendar.Create a guest list.Visit and reserve a location and venue.Solicit a pastor, magistrate or officiate for the ceremony.Create a budget.Host an announcement party for family and friends.Consider hiring a wedding planner.10-12 Months Before
6-10 Months Before
4-6 Months Before
2-4 Months Before
2-8 Weeks Before
1-2 Weeks Before
1 Day Before
Ceremony Day

Back to Gay Weddings: Things to Consider

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Am I Enough For My Bi Man?

Mona,

I’m dating a bisexual man right now. We are both black. I’m gay and we’re both in our 30’s. So far, we’ve been monogamous and he has sworn this to me. I just don’t know if he could be satisfied with me. Any advice? Should I break it off or continue? I’m pretty confused because I never thought that I would be dating someone who is bisexual!

Dear Crossroad,

There's been a lot of discussion lately about your bi dilemma. Everywhere, boyfriends (and girlfriends) of bi guys wade in oceans of insecurity thinking that just because their bi lover has two times the amount of people to potentially paddle through, that he is twice as likely to cheat. When in fact, his large candidate pool has nothing to do with any innate need to stray.

Sure, he likes both men and women; but if he is committed to you, then you have to trust that you are the only one he needs. For most bi guys, it's not all about sex and you lessen the emotional and spiritual connection he has for you by assuming that his like for woman parts is synonymous with an unfulfilled need.

You're also assuming that potentially cheating bi guys (or any cheater, really) only does so because they are sexually unfulfilled. Sex is not the only reason people walk the plank. Some jump ship because they are not satisfied emotionally or spiritually... or they could, frankly, just be over and bored with the relationship.

The likelihood of your bi guy cheating is the same as a 100% gay guy cheating or the probability of a 100% straight guy straying. And, most of the time, our worries about losing a love has more to do with our own insecurities than their want of another.

I've said it before: A liar is a liar, a cheat is a cheat and a player is a player, regardless of race, sexual identity or gender. These nega-ties are innate in the individual, not their defining characteristics.

If he told you that he wanted a woman, then my answer would be slightly different; but he hasn't, so you're paddling upstream by assuming the worst. Instead of seeing his bisexuality as twice the potential for him to cheat, see yourself as the winner amongst twice the school of potentials.

So, with your bi guy, you have to do what every other person in a straight or gay relationship does: trust that when he says you're the only one he wants, that he actually means it. That leap of faith is sometimes a hard thing to take, but no relationship can be successful without it.

Yours in trust,
Mona

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Hepatitis C and Gay Sex

Definition:
Hepatitis C is a virus caused by the hepatitis C virus or HCV. 80% of people infected with the liver disease HCV have no symptoms. There is no cure or vaccine for hepatitis C.

Symptoms of Hepatitis C: jaundicefatigueabdominal paindark urineloss of appetitenauseaHow is it transmitted?
HCV is transmitted through the blood from an infected person to an unaffected person. Though the spread of HCV through sex is rare, it is possible.

Can it be prevented or treated?
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C and keep in mind, 80 of those infected have no symptoms. Has your partner been vaccinated? Also, use a dental dam, saran wrap or a condom while rimming. Use a condom during anal sex and don't share personal care products like razors or toothbrushes until you are sure of your partner's status.

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Gay Life in India: Section 377

The criminalization of homosexuality in India dates back to 1860, when the country was still under British rule. The statute, officially Indian Penal Code Chapter XVI, Section 377, punished "whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal." Violations are punishable by a prison term up to 10 years and possible fines.

On July 2, 2009, the New Delhi High Court, under Justice S. Muralidhar, repealed Section 377, decriminalizing consensual sex between LGBT adults.

In June of 2008, three Indian cities, Bangaluru, Calcutta and New Delhi, held their first LGBT pride marches just days before the Naz Foundation India Trust, an activist group, presented arguments before the New Delhi High Court to repeal Section 377. The repeal of Section 377 came just days after the second pride marches in Delhi, and Bangalore.

Gay advocacy groups argued that Section 377 had been used by Indian police to discriminate against and blackmail India's LGBT citizens. "In India, gays and lesbians still live highly closeted lives," Vikram Doctor, a member of the Queer Media Collective, told The Washington Post. "There is still violence. There are still many desperate suicides by gay couples. There is still harassment. And there is still intense pressure to marry those they do not want to be with. But today we have a voice."

It is unclear what affect the reversal of Section 377 will have on India's transgender population. Times of India writes, "Even if the HC [New Delhi High Court] rules in favour of transgenders [known as hijras or eunuchs] and declares Section 377 of IPC unconstitutional, it would mean little if corresponding legal rights were not conferred on them through amendments to the Constitution, as well as personal laws, that require moving of appropriate bills in Parliament by the political class."

News and Updates:
A gay couple in Manipur exchanged bouquets in the region's first same-sex union.25-year-old model Karina Shalini wins first Miss India Transgender pageant.View pictures from the first gay pride march in Bangaluru.

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All About Transgender People

The differences between a transsexual person, a transgender person or person that cross dresses is often unclear. Here is a quick rundown of the differences:

Transgender Definitions:

Here are the most frequently asked questions about transgender people:

Q: What is a Transgender Person?

Is It Okay To Use The Word 'Tranny'?

Q: Why Do Men Dress in Women's Clothing?

Q: Do All Gay Men Do Drag?

Q: Why Are Drag Shows Popular?

Q: Do All Transgender People Have Sex Reassignment Surgery?

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