Denied A Life Together When heterosexual Americans want to spend their lives with a partner born in another country, they simply file the appropriate paperwork and wait. Unless there are unusual circumstances, such as a criminal background, it is only a matter of time before the foreign partner is granted permanent resident status. Since gay and lesbians cannot get engaged or legally married they are denied these same fundamental human rights. There is no provision in the law that addresses this injustice. Read more about U.S. Law by clicking here.