Same-sex couples forced into exile from US flock to Britain

. Gay and lesbian partners drawn by new laws
· Exodus blamed on lack of recognition in America

A growing number of gay and lesbian Americans are being forced to leave the United States and resettle in Britain, where new immigration rules grant them the same rights as straight couples, according to the New York-based civil rights organisation Human Rights Watch. "Many US citizens go into exile to preserve their families and stay with their life partners," says an HRW report, Family, Unvalued, released this week. "When US citizens' foreign partners are not permitted to live with them in their country, Americans are forced to uproot themselves and leave their families, their jobs, their communities and country. Often, they turn to one of the 19 countries with laws that let citizens sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration purposes."

The UK's immigration rules were changed to grant equality to same-sex couples as an amendment to the Civil Partnership Act, which came into force in November last year. As a result, many Americans with European Union partners have moved to Britain. Lance Lattig, a spokesman for HRW, said: "A large number of same-sex couples have gone to the UK or are thinking of going."
According to the US census there are 40,000 binational same-sex couples in the US, although Mr Lattig believes the number to be several times higher. A Home Office spokesman said: "The act sends a clear message that same-sex couples deserve recognition and respect."

Other countries that allow citizens to sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration purposes include Canada and 12 other European countries - Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. On other continents, the list includes Brazil, Israel, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.