3-21-08, 9:25 am

For Immediate Release Contact: Zaheer Mustafa, Communications Coordinator office: 212.714.2904 /cell: 516.448.9559 email:Zmustafa@immigrationequality.org

From Immigration Equality

New York, March 20, 2008 - Peter Sprigg, vice president of policy at the Family Research Council, discussed the group's opposition to the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) saying 'I would much prefer to export homosexuals from the United States than to import them into the United States because we believe homosexuality is destructive to society.'

The following is Immigration Equality's official response to Mr. Sprigg's inflammatory statement.

Statement by Rachel B. Tiven, Executive Director Immigration Equality

'Unfortunately, the Family Research Council's preference to export lesbian, gay, bisexual and trangender (LGBT) Americans prevails. This policy continues to separate people who love each other, but of course Mr. Sprigg's group doesn't care about that.

I hope, however, that the Family Research Council realizes that when we 'export homosexuals' we also export talented men and women who have made incredible contributions to this country and its economy - THAT is 'destructive to society'. LGBT Americans who are forced into exile from this country are researchers for companies like GE and Pfizer, nurses in the Midwest, teachers in our inner cities and sons and daughters of aging parents who depend on them for care.

The Family Research Council might not care about our families but current immigration laws are 'destructive' to America and I hope that is something they do care about.'

From Immigration Equality