Film highlight same-sex immigrants

LOS ANGELES, July 16 (UPI) -- A documentary about the immigration problems of homosexual couples is to have its premier at the annual gay and lesbian film festival in Los Angeles.

Entitled "Though Thick and Thin," the film highlights the difficulties experienced by gay Americans who want to get green cards for their immigrant partners, The Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

U.S. immigration laws don't apply to homosexual couples because the federal government reserves immigration benefits to those with "valid marriages" to U.S. citizens.

New York filmmaker Sebastian Cordoba told the Times he made the film as a tribute to couples who fought the system and stayed together.

"U.S. laws are creating pointless heartache for thousands of American citizens," said Tim Miller whose Australian partner will have to leave the United States when his visa runs out.

The 2000 census recorded some 36,000 same-sex bi-national couples in the United States but researchers believe that number could be anywhere from 10 percent to 50 percent higher, the Times said.