Jack and George Scott-Lee are a married gay couple based in the West Midlands. They are both professional dancers and together, they run a dance academy in Tipton. In January, they were left heartbroken and confused when the Home Office rejected George’s partner visa; giving him just 14 days to leave the country and return to his birthplace, Venezuela; a country that even the Home Office’s own website advises people not to visit due to safety concerns.
The couple are currently still safely in the UK together but they have been waiting since January to discover their fate. They have paid for an appeal which has been accepted for an independent tribunal which should take place next month (November 2024), where they will have a chance to have their case reviewed.
Speaking to Midlands Rainbow, Jack explained, “If we are forced to go to Venezuela our marriage will be denied and [we will] be forced back into the closet. We have no legal protection in Venezuela where LGBTQ hate crime and murder are high.
“The Home Office official website also states it advises nobody to visit Venezuela as it’s so unsafe. Yet, they are suggesting [that] we should be shipped off to Venezuela, after meeting all legal requirements for our spouse visa [which was] rejected by Home Office hence, we have the independent tribunal.”
Salman Mirza, of Brushstrokes Community Project, the couple’s legal representative, said earlier this year: “This is the result, yet again, of a hostile environment policy bereft of both logic and humanity."
Jack added that the couple had received great witness statements from the Mayor as well as various local MPs who have reached out to offer support for the tribunal.
To support their case further, Jack has also launched a petition challenging the Home Office’s decision to deny his husband’s spouse visa.
The petition’s outline reads: “We are calling on the UK Home Office to reconsider its decision to deny a marriage spouse visa to a committed, law-abiding gay couple. This decision threatens to separate them, undermining their right as a married couple to live together in the UK. The petitioner has been an active campaigner for LGBTQ+ rights and equality, advocating for the right of gay marriage and human rights. It is deeply ironic and unjust that her own rights are now being infringed upon.
“The UK is known globally for its commitment towards upholding human rights, including those of LGBTQ+ individuals. As per Stonewall UK, there were an estimated 1.2 million people identifying as LGB in 2016 (Office for National Statistics), many of whom have benefited from progressive legislation such as the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.
“This case represents not just one couple's struggle but reflects on how we treat all members of our society who contribute positively and seek nothing more than fairness under law. We urge you to review this case with compassion and uphold the principles that make our country inclusive and fair.”
Kommentare