On July 13th 2011 in San Francisco, Alex Benshimol and Doug Gentry, a married California couple, will face every same-sex binational couple’s worst nightmare: a deportation hearing. As anyone following this issue knows, for years there has been little hope for same-sex binational couples seeking to reside together in the US. Many are legally married like Alex and Doug, but are still treated as... [read more]

On July 13th 2011 in San Francisco, Alex Benshimol and Doug Gentry, a married California couple, will face every same-sex binational couple’s worst nightmare: a deportation hearing. As anyone following this issue knows, for years there has been little hope for same-sex binational couples seeking to reside together in the US. Many are legally married like Alex and Doug, but are still treated as legal strangers in the eyes of our own government.

Out4Immigration is co-organizing this event with Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA), Stop The Deportations & GetEQUAL on July 13th, the day after the library event in support of Doug & Alex as they head into the immigration courts to have their deportation hearing.

For more information about Doug & Alex - you can read their story here: http://stopthedeportations.blogspot.com/2011/06/doug-alex-face-doma-deportation-hearing.html

Doug and Alex are also featured in our change.org petition this week! http://www.change.org/petitions/save-doug-and-alexs-marriage-and-stop-deporting-our-spouses

More information on the immigration challenges facing LGBT couples can be found here: http://bit.ly/LGBT_Fact

Confirmed Speakers:

Opening Remarks/Letters Of Support: 7:30
Bevan Dufty (Former Supervisor): 7:35
Phil Ting: 7:40 (Assessor/Recorder): 7:40
Vincent Pan (CFAA): 7:45
Ross Mirkarimi (Supervisor): 7:50
Lavi Soloway (Attorney For Doug & Alex): 7:55
Heidi Li (APILO): 8:00
Ming Wong (NCLR): 8:05
Ana Perez (CARECEN): 8:10
Annette Wong (SFILEN): 8:15
Dusty Araujo (NIJC): 8:20
Judy Rickard (Author, “Torn Apart: United By Love Divided By Law”): 8:25
Closing Remarks: 8:30


Supporting Organizations:

API Equality
API Legal Outreach
Asian Law Caucus
Asian Pacific American Legal Center
Central American Resource Center
Chinese For Affirmative Action
Equality California
Immigration Equality
Love Honor Cherish
National Center For Lesbian Rights
National Immigration Justice Center
San Francisco Immigrant Legal And Education Network
San Francisco LGBT Center