For the Sake of Science

Genesio Oliveira and Tim Coco are married in the United States. But that doesn’t mean they’re being treated equally.

The couple were temporarily separated when Mr Oliveira’s bid for asylum over claims he was raped in Brazil as a teenager was rejected on the grounds he was not physically affected.

But in June Senator John Kerry intervened and urged officials to temporarily allow Mr Oliveira back into the country and to return to the home he shares with Mr Coco in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

His return was granted on humanitarian grounds, but now Attorney General Eric Holder has refused to change his mind on the original decision.

It means the Brazilian could be forced out with six months, a decision which has drawn criticism from gay rights groups.

What’s the justification here? How is this good? A legitimately married couple want to live in the U.S.; one spouse is a U.S. citizen. This seems pretty straight forward.

But, then, a majority of Americans are disinterested in civil rights for everyone.

Filed under: Politics and Social, Rights, Same-sex marriage | Tagged: Civil Rights for Gays, Genesio Oliveira, John Kerry, Tim Coco |