Staying in the USA just got a lot easier for Australians since the US Congress created the new E3 work visa May 10, 2005. The new visa, for Australians only, works much like the H1-B visa work visa but can be renewed indefinitely unlike the H1-B. By granting over 10,000 E3 visas the US government has effectively increased the opportunities for our friends from down under to stay and work in the US. The H1-B visa has a cap of 65,000, cannot be renewed indefinitely, and applicants compete with citizens from around the world.

The new work visa has special significance for gay and lesbian Australians in binational relationships wishing to say in the US. Australia is among 16 nations around the world that allow their citizens the right to sponsor their partner for immigration purposes. US immigration law and the Defense of Marriage Act cureently make it impossible for queer US citizens to sponsor their gay partners for immigration purposes. However, the Permanant Partners Immigration Act is being re-introduced in the US congress to change US law to support binational immigration.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

The American Psychiatric Association approved a statement in support of legalizing gay marriage. According to the Washington Post the Association supports gay marriage "in the interest of maintaining and promoting mental health and "The document states that the association is addressing same-sex civil marriage, not religious marriages. It takes no position on any religion's views on marriage."

A press release on the association's website states "Denying Same-Sex Couples Legal Access to Civil Marriage is Discriminatory and Can Adversely Affect the Psychological, Physical, Social and Economic Well-Being of Gay and Lesbian Individuals"

The American Psychiatric Association is one of the top medical association's in the USA with more than 35,000 physician members in the USA and internationally. The American Psychiatric Association approved a statement in support of legalizing gay marriage. According to an Associated Press (AP) article in the Washington Post the Association supports gay marriage "in the interest of maintaining and promoting mental health."