Marco Rubio Will Revoke Immigration Bill Support if Gay Couple Amendment Added

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“I’m Done,” Rubio Threatens

Republican Florida Senator Marco Rubio said that he will withdraw his support of the Senate Immigration Bill if the immigration bill now under consideration includes a gay couple amendment.  This amendment would allow gay Americans to petition for same-sex spouses living abroad to secure a green card. As one of the “Gang of Eight,” Rubio is the most prominent Republican senator to develop the bipartisan Immigration reform bill.

Leahy’s Amendment

Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced, on June 11, 2013, the amendment that would enable married, bi-national same-sex couples to apply for a visa through the marriage-based green card application process. – same ruling now in place for citizens to sponsor foreign same-sex spouses for permanent residency in the U.S.

Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Leahy withdrew the bill, originally introduced during the committee’s markup of the bill. Said Leahy,” I withheld my anti-discrimination amendment during the Senate Judiciary Committee markup although seeking equal protection under our laws for the LGBT community is the right thing to do. As the entire Senate turns to debate the immigration bill, the fight for equality must go on.”

Republican Fears

Republicans, like Rubio, have said repeatedly that Leahy’s proposal would cause key groups( a coalition of political, business and religious groups) to withdraw their support and kill the bill.  Rubio believes that with the gay amendment, the bill has no chance of passing.  “It’s already a difficult enough issue, as it is, “ Rubio told conservative radio host Andrea Tantaros on June 13, 2013.  “I’m off it, and I’ve said that repeatedly, if this bill has in it something that gives gay couples immigration rights), it kills the bill. I  don’t think that’s going to happen and it shouldn’t happen.”

Touted as a top GOP presidential prospect in 2016, Rubio is not popular with LGBT activists. Not only is he not in favor of the Gay Couple Amendment to the Immigration Bill, but also opposed to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill to make discrimination against LGBT individuals illegal across the country. At the opening of the annual Faith and Freedom Forum on June 13, 2013, Rubio said that he is not for any special protections based on orientation.  In more than thirty states, it is legal to fire gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender persons from their workplace because of their sexual orientation.