Gay Couple’s Son Not Granted Citizenship – But His Twin Brother Was
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
By Ari Feldman January 26, 2018
Ethan Dvash-Banks is just 16 months old, but he’s already suing the U.S. State Department, the Chicago Tribune reported. He was denied U.S. citizenship — even when his twin brother Aiden was granted it.
Ethan’s biological father, Elad, is Israeli, and his twin brother’s biological father, Andrew, is American. The two were both born as twins to a surrogate mother with donor eggs. The Dvash-Banks and advocates say the couple was discriminated against because they are a same sex couple.
“If a mother and father walk into a consulate and have a marriage certificate and birth certificate, they’re never asked any questions about the biology of the child,” said Aaron Morris, executive director of Immigration Equality. “But the converse is also true and every same-sex couple will be asked that.”
When Elad and Andrew Dvash-Banks applied for citizenship for their infant sons, the State Department representative interviewing them asked for DNA evidence that Ethan and Aiden were twins.
“I started crying,” Andrew Dvash-Banks said. “These are twins, how can you differentiate between them? They were born minutes apart.”
After the DNA samples were submitted, only Aiden — whose biological father is a U.S. citizen — received a passport. The whole family is currently living in Los Angeles. Ethan’s passport visa expired last month.
Contact Ari Feldman at [email protected] or on Twitter @aefeldman
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
