This petition calls for the passage of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) that seeks to add the category of 'Permanent Partner' in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
This will allow US citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents to sponsor their same sex partner for immigration benefits to the US in the same way that an opposite sex married couple can.
Currently the category of 'Spouse' in the INA is defined as a husband or wife of the opposite sex. Therefore legally married same sex couples cannot file for immigration benefits in this category.
The inclusion of the category of 'Permanent Partner' would allow same sex married couples to seek immigration benefits based on their relationship - which would be adjudicated with the same scrutiny as a married opposite sex couple.