By
Michael R. Gordon
LONDON
– The U.S will now treat the applications of same-sex married couples as it
would that of opposite-sex couples, Secretary of State John Kerry has
announced. The change in policy comes after the U.S Supreme Court struck down a
law against same-sex marriage. The policy change is set to take effect
immediately and will apply to American citizens and foreign same-sex couples,
dependent only on the marriage having taken place in a jurisdiction that
recognizes same-sex marriage. “The change was hailed by gay rights groups. “We
are relieved and pleased,” said Rachel B. Tiven, executive director of
Immigration Equality, a lobbying group. “It brings a clarity that gay and
lesbian couples around the world have been waiting for.”” There was some
frustration among same-sex married couples even after the Supreme Court struck
down a section of the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as a
union between a man and woman, due to U.S embassies and consulates not being
able to offer services without official guidance from the State Department. “Mr. Kerry said the State Department was “tearing down an
unjust and an unfair barrier that for too long stood in the way of same-sex
families being able to travel as a family to the United States. This is one of
those moments when policy and values join together,” Mr. Kerry also noted that
he had voted against the Defense of Marriage Act as a senator.”
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