WHAT I WISH TO SAY TO CONGRESS

American but less than equal. Growing up in a bi-racial family in the early 70’s in New York my sisters and I were told by strangers we were less than equal because we were mixed. Moving to a then rather affluent Marin County in the 1980’s, my predominately white classmates told me I was less than equal because I was black. At 17 I enrolled at San Francisco State University to study in a male dominated music engineering degree program and as the boys in my class proclaimed supremacy as I sat alone as the only girl amongst them, I was made to feel less than equal because I was a female. Despite the challenges that being a woman, black and white presented me all those years, there was never a moment I felt being denied the right to obtaining my goals. Regardless of the prejudices I faced, I never for once stopped believing I could be successful in anything that I worked for. That is until now. I am a 35 years old woman who is in a same sex bi-national relationship who is being denied my pursuit of happiness due to the unfairness of The United States Immigration laws. Its failure to recognize my relationship as well as those who have been married in other countries, defies all definitions of freedom that were embedded in my head during Civics classes. Same sex marriages should not be an issue that is determined by popular vote or state level. This is a civil rights issue and any discrimination towards same sex couples should be viewed as unconstitutional. In this day and age where greed and corruption is at its peak, I find it difficult to find a reason why the United States forbids me to be with the someone who makes me a better person, and therefore a better American. To say that America is not ready for such a radical change in our society is an excuse that is full of hate and shame for I am sure that this kind of rhetoric was stated when women fought for the right to vote or when slavery was abolished. If not now then when. I believe in America and I believe our country has a duty to show the world that Freedom is not for a selective few. I ask that you help push forward legislation that helps those like me be able to be a member of the American dream, the American Freedom and not one who is separate and unequal.