The Trump Administration Is Now Denying Visas to the Same-Sex Partners of Diplomats and U.N. Officials

In a move so overwhelmingly bigoted it’s actually mind-boggling, the Trump administration has begun denying visas to same-sex domestic partners of foreign diplomats and U.N. employees, Foreign Policy reports. As of Monday, couples based in the U.S. will need to get married by the end of the year or leave, regardless of whether their home countries recognize same-sex marriage or not:

“Same-sex spouses of U.S. diplomats now enjoy the same rights and benefits as opposite-sex spouses,” the U.S. mission wrote in a July 12 note to U.N.-based delegations. “Consistent with [State] Department policy, partners accompanying members of permanent missions or seeking to join the same must generally be married in order to be eligible” for a diplomatic visa.

The new policy reverses one from 2009 made by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which granted visas to domestic partners of diplomats. According to Human Rights Watch, homosexuality is criminalized in more than 70 countries, not that the Trump administration gives a shit about that. What’s really important here? People’s lives, or methodically overturning every Obama-era policy out of nothing but petty spite? You know the answer.

Also, putting aside the bigotry aspect for a moment, requiring a needless shuffle of paperwork demonstrably out of step with many modern lives in order to bring a partner to another country for work is draconian itself. What is this garbage? Is this a money-saving tactic? Because fuck you.

Hilariously, the State Department spokesperson attributed the change “to help ensure and promote equal treatment” between straight and gay couples.