Filipino TS Woman Given Visa to Marry American Serviceman

[Carolyn Marie]

Another positive change in American laws and regulations. Cute couple.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2013/12/08/same-sex-couple-visa-now-available-philippines-317726

Carolyn Marie

[Guest]

Interesting to see how this plays out. Jody

[Guest KimberlyF]

So that is two gay men in the pic?

"The first gay couple in the Philippines to receive a fiance visa are Noel Amaro and Robert Cotternman who met online and are set to marry each other in the US on January 2014."

[Guest Kalie Aowynn]

!6 states so far and the numbers are growing. Now if we could Arizona and the rest to play ball it would be about love not sexual orientation. We also need to get God out of it. Because making laws based on the bible is an affront to all others out there and a seriously detrimental to the cause of love.

Kalie

[Carolyn Marie]

So that is two gay men in the pic?

"The first gay couple in the Philippines to receive a fiance visa are Noel Amaro and Robert Cotternman who met online and are set to marry each other in the US on January 2014."

Well, it isn't exactly a mainstream news outlet, even for the Philippines. I'll give them an E for effort.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest]

!6 states so far and the numbers are growing. Now if we could Arizona and the rest to play ball it would be about love not sexual orientation. We also need to get God out of it. Because making laws based on the bible is an affront to all others out there and a seriously detrimental to the cause of love.

Kalie

I disagree slightly. Not taking God and the Bible out of the equation, but taking the twisted interpretations of the religious zealots out of it. I find they are the most in-human and inhumane. Nullify their power to their true station in life. Purveyors of opinion, not true love, or medical fact. My opinion is; that is what Jesus would do. Something about clearing the temple??? Well I'm not that well versed in the book, or have the power to do it I pray. Hug. JodyAnn

PS- I think we need a marriage clause for us intersexed people. We should be able to marry any gender, but not as a gay marriage, We each have a hetero something in there somewhere. Giggle. JA

[Guest Melissa~]

I too found the article an atrocious read. The picture didn't come through either when I read it. My larger issue is since when is a man and woman getting married up for debate too? Or is she not a woman? I don't get it.

[Guest LizMarie]

The article's writing was not exactly well done but the decision by the US embassy is what was important.

[Ravin]

With DOMA in effect, the procedural hurdles for a trans/cis hetero couple were complicated. There had to be complete transition of the trans partner, consent from the cis partner that they knew what they were getting into, and they had to be planning to get married in one of 3 states where the law did not allow same sex marriage to be acknowledged or performed in any way AND transitioned people were unambiguously recognized as their true gender and not sex assigned at birth.

This meant it didn't happen often, and couldn't happen of the trans person came from a country with unhelpful laws.

[Guest KimberlyF]

If they decided to live in the Philippines, they could stay married and raise their adopted child.

Striking down DOMA doesn't force the US to recognize their foreign marriage when dealing with issues of immigration and visas.

Their application will state same sex couple. The article is correct. They are claiming to be a gay couple to get a visa for the future bride.

Yay Trans rights!

[Carolyn Marie]

If they decided to live in the Philippines, they could stay married and raise their adopted child.

Striking down DOMA doesn't force the US to recognize their foreign marriage when dealing with issues of immigration and visas.

Their application will state same sex couple. The article is correct. They are claiming to be a gay couple to get a visa for the future bride.

Yay Trans rights!

Kimberly, same sex marriage is illegal in the Philippines. They are getting married in the U.S., where their marriage will be legal in sixteen states, whether they are recognized as a same sex or opposite sex couple. This has nothing to do with recognizing a foreign marriage. I doesn't have anything to do with trans rights, either.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest KimberlyF]

If they decided to live in the Philippines, they could stay married and raise their adopted child.

Striking down DOMA doesn't force the US to recognize their foreign marriage when dealing with issues of immigration and visas.

Their application will state same sex couple. The article is correct. They are claiming to be a gay couple to get a visa for the future bride.

Yay Trans rights!

Kimberly, same sex marriage is illegal in the Philippines. They are getting married in the U.S., where their marriage will be legal in sixteen states, whether they are recognized as a same sex or opposite sex couple. This has nothing to do with recognizing a foreign marriage. I doesn't have anything to do with trans rights, either. Yay!

Carolyn Marie

According to the couple, they got married in Baguio City, Philippines in 2012 and yes, gay marriage is illegal, so it would have to have been as male and female. As you said, it doesn't have anything to do with Trans rights. Based on the article, what will be filled out on official documents, a gay man is being given a visa. What is prob their first major official act in this country will be for this TG woman to deny who they are to get in. Welcome to America!

So maybe the headline could read 'TG woman who is married as a woman in backwards country has to pretend to be gay man to get visa to gain entrance into US'

[Ravin]

If they decided to live in the Philippines, they could stay married and raise their adopted child.

Striking down DOMA doesn't force the US to recognize their foreign marriage when dealing with issues of immigration and visas.

Their application will state same sex couple. The article is correct. They are claiming to be a gay couple to get a visa for the future bride.

Yay Trans rights!

Kimberly, same sex marriage is illegal in the Philippines. They are getting married in the U.S., where their marriage will be legal in sixteen states, whether they are recognized as a same sex or opposite sex couple. This has nothing to do with recognizing a foreign marriage. I doesn't have anything to do with trans rights, either. Yay!

Carolyn Marie

According to the couple, they got married in Baguio City, Philippines in 2012 and yes, gay marriage is illegal, so it would have to have been as male and female. As you said, it doesn't have anything to do with Trans rights. Based on the article, what will be filled out on official documents, a gay man is being given a visa. What is prob their first major official act in this country will be for this TG woman to deny who they are to get in. Welcome to America!

So maybe the headline could read 'TG woman who is married as a woman in backwards country has to pretend to be gay man to get visa to gain entrance into US'

So most likely they couldn't do it sooner because the MTF spouse didn't meet whatever legal criteria for transition was being held out as necessary to consider her female for fiancee visa purposes.

With DOMA struck down, they found a successful loophole. I'm happy for them, but it does illustrate an area where trans rights lag.