Standing with the LGBTQ+ Community: Legal Advocacy at Benach Pitney Reilly Immigration
Since 2012, the team at Benach Pitney Reilly Immigration has provided fierce, affirming legal representation for LGBTQ+ immigrants navigating complex U.S. immigration law. Formerly known as Benach Collopy, the firm’s commitment is rooted in the belief that LGBTQ+ immigrants make America stronger—and deserve legal advocates who understand their identity, their struggles, and their right to thrive.
From securing asylum for individuals fleeing persecution to guiding same-sex couples through family-based petitions, the firm has remained at the forefront of LGBTQ+ immigration advocacy. The strength of this work lies not only in legal acumen—but in lived experience, compassion, and a team that reflects the very communities it serves.
A Legal Team That Reflects the LGBTQ+ Community
At Benach Pitney Reilly Immigration, LGBTQ+ representation is not just a value—it’s a lived reality that informs the firm’s advocacy and strengthens client trust. The team includes attorneys and legal professionals who identify as LGBTQ+, bringing firsthand knowledge of the unique legal and cultural challenges facing queer and trans immigrants in the United States.
🏳️🌈 Representation Across the Firm
- Partner Sarah Pitney, a non-binary, pansexual immigration attorney, is a nationally recognized advocate whose work defending LGBTQ+ individuals is rooted in personal experience and professional mission.
- Founding Partner Ava Benach, also a member of the LGBTQ+ community, brings decades of litigation experience and continues to work closely with community organizations like Whitman-Walker Health, offering pro bono support to transgender immigrants throughout the D.C. region.
🤝 Cultural Competency as Legal Strategy
- Whether LGBTQ+ or allied, every attorney at the firm is deeply committed to affirming, culturally responsive representation. Team members receive training and mentorship to ensure that each client’s identity is honored throughout the legal process.
- This lived experience and deep cultural fluency improve the firm’s ability to handle complex petitions, such as gender marker changes, trauma-informed asylum interviews, and same-sex family reunification cases.
🌍 Diversity Beyond Identity
Benach Pitney Reilly Immigration believes that intersectionality matters—recognizing that effective legal advocacy requires understanding race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, and the full spectrum of immigrant experiences.
How Benach Pitney Reilly Immigration Helps LGBTQ+ Clients
Benach Pitney Reilly Immigration has helped hundreds of LGBTQ+ immigrants secure safety, status, and stability in the United States. The firm’s legal team brings both litigation experience and community understanding to a wide range of cases—from asylum to humanitarian relief to family-based petitions involving LGBTQ+ families.
🌟 Client Story: Sandy’s Journey
In June 2024, the firm celebrated Sandy, a queer man who immigrated to the U.S. in 2015 and applied for lawful permanent residence. With the firm’s support, Sandy achieved permanent status and continues to play an active role in D.C.’s LGBTQ+ community:
- Participates in Capital Pride each year
- Supports youth through organizations like SMYAL, which assists unhoused LGBTQ+ youth
- Won the Stonewall’s Got Talent competition with a celebrated drag performance
- Sandy’s case reflects the firm’s core belief: when LGBTQ+ immigrants thrive, communities are strengthened.
⚖️ Legal Services for LGBTQ+ Immigrants
The firm has successfully represented LGBTQ+ clients in:
- Asylum cases for those fleeing persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity
- U visas for survivors of crime, including LGBTQ+ individuals targeted because of identity
- Marriage-based green card petitions for same-sex and gender-diverse couples
- Parole and humanitarian relief for transgender individuals and others facing urgent risk
Partnering with LGBTQ+ Immigrants to Build Safer Futures
Benach Pitney Reilly Immigration is proud to stand with LGBTQ+ immigrants seeking safety, dignity, and belonging in the United States. Whether facing persecution abroad, navigating complex legal systems, or building a life with loved ones, LGBTQ+ individuals deserve legal advocates who lead with both strategy and solidarity.
If you or someone you support needs trusted immigration counsel, our team is ready to help. Contact Benach Pitney Reilly Immigration today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a secure, affirming path forward.