This is why the American Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) needs to be repealed. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have denied immigration benefits to a bi-national married gay couple in San Francisco and have ordered the expulsion of the Australian spouse who is the primary caregiver to his American, AIDS-afflicted husband, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

Anthony John Makk, a citizen of Australia and American Bradford Wells have lived together for 19 years and were married seven years ago in Massachusetts where marriage equality was legalized in 2004. However, citing DOMA, the U.S. government have denied Makk's application to be considered for permanent residency as a spouse of an American citizen.

President Obama actually expressed earlier this year that DOMA was unconstitutional on equal protection grounds and that the administration would no longer defend it in court. Nonetheless, the administration said it would continue to enforce the law, while exercising discretion on a case-by-case basis, which brings us to today. From the San Francisco Chronicle:

Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, said Pelosi has contacted immigration officials on behalf of the couple and "will be working to exhaust all appropriate immigration remedies that are open to pursue."

DOMA is an American federal law, signed by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1996, whereby the U.S. government defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. As of today, there are only a little above 15,000 signatures on the Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Now petition. A lot more people need to sign this to make a difference. So just do it. Now. Here.

Thank you.