The lesbian and gay community is closely watching Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to see if he includes LGBT families in his Senate version of Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) legislation. Senator Schumer is scheduled to introduce his bill within a couple of weeks. Will his bill be an inclusive bill?

The Democratic Party has a history of telling the LGBT community that we are part of their America, part of their vision for America. In fact, Senator Schumer himself as chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) made similar statements when fundraising in the gay community.

Now that Senator Schumer is responsible for the Senate version of CIR, we will find out whether all these words were hollow or if he meant them. Will Senator Schumer’s immigration bill demonstrate that gays are part of his America? Will it be inclusive of gays?

There are innumerable reasons why any Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill must include gay and lesbian couples. Here are just a few:

1. It’s really not comprehensive if it doesn’t include our families.

2. The Democratic/Obama/Progressive coalition includes women, blacks, Latinos AND gays and this coalition should not be divided by our own side. The Republicans always try to divide us. The Democrats shouldn’t be helping them do this. The coalition is strongest when it’s together.

3. In a bill that is going to cover 12 to 15 million immigrants, gay partners add only 18,000 more people (there are 36,000 binational gay couples — and one half of each couple is already a US citizen). Adding 18,000 to a bill that will include 12 to 15 million total people is miniscule.

4. After repeatedly telling us that we are part of their America, to exclude LGBT foreign born partners when the immigration laws are being revised to welcome new immigrants, would be a slap in the face by Senator Schumer in particular and the Democratic Party in general.

5. It’s simply the right thing to do.

Another reason gays must be part of immigration reform is to simply catch up with the rest of the civilized world. Of the world’s leading 20 democracies, 19 allow their gay citizens to sponsor their foreign born partner so that both can live in that country together. The 20th country, the United States, does not. Most of these countries, like the US, don’t recognize gay marriage, so it’s not a marriage issue.

In fact, all the other English speaking countries (our cultural cousins) have provisions in their immigrations laws to allow gay partners to stay together in that country. Unfortunately, a US citizen who falls in love with a foreign born citizen usually ends up having to move to another country. The citizen must live in exile if the couple wishes to stay together.

If you wish to weigh in with Senator Schumer to tell him CIR must be inclusive of gay families, his office number is: (202) 224-6542. Ask to speak with or leave a message for a Judiciary Aide.