We are gay and lesbian couples. Out of love, we have chosen to live together. But the police in this country systematically has refused to grant an official status to gays. We or our lovers are now threatenedwith deportation from France. These actions are being carried out by civil servants who blindly obey guidelines that have been created to justify our exclusion from society. We firmly believe that the right to live with the person of our choice is a fundamental right.

The government exercises its influence over local police authorities to favor families over single individuals or those people who are in partnerships it does not recognize. The government refuses to acknowledge our relationships, long-term emotional attachments that involves life-long plans and that are proof of our integration in society.

In order to ban foreign gays, lesbian and transsexuals from remaining in France, the government relies on the outdated French legislation which refuses to grant us equal rights. It is the only way that politicians can justify such blatant disrespect of our rights, thus refusing our right to live in this country, with the partner of our choice. To combat this position, the only morally dignifies response is to demand permanent residency for all the "Sans-Papiers", all ofthose who are without the papers allowing them the right to remain in France.
 

Furthermore, the deportation of any patient suffering from AIDS, AIDS-related or other serious illnesses as well as the deportation of gays, lesbians and transsexuals is in fact a violation of human rights. The application of the Chevènement decree (named for theMinister of the Interior and which establishes the arbitrary criteria under which some "sans-papiers" may apply for amnesty and residency) deliberately ignores the commitments France has made to European Convention of Human Rights. Article 8 of the Convention concerning privacy and family should be interpreted to provide  protection forgay couples in which one member is non-European; Article 3, concerning protection against inhumane or degrading treatment, should prevent any
civilized country from sending individuals back to their country of origin if they will be in danger or will face discrimination because of their sexual orientation.

In many cases, gay, lesbians and transsexuals who are deported are, because of their identity and their lifestyles, confronted with family pressures and social as well as political persecution and violence, resulting for some in death. Refusing them the right to remain in France means that the government allows them to be the victims of suchviolence, and is an accomplice to such violence.

Gay, Lesbians and transsexuals must be granted asylum and protection by all European democracies and above all by France. Our country prides itself on its contribution to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We should more than any other country apply and enforcethese rights.

French human rights associations are often not aware of the problems that foreign gays face. That is why we have chosen to establish our "Collectif de Soutien des Homos Sans-Papiers", The Defense Group of Gays without Papers. We are working fast to transform it in a legal and durable association. We will defend our rights to our personal relationships, to live with the person of our choice, to protect the person with whom we share love and trust.

We call all gays, lesbians and transsexuals who wish to have their rights recognized and anyone else who wishes to express their support of individual freedom and basic human rights to join us and to supportour cause.

Paris, the 21th of March 1998.