Hey, I was just there last weekend, Times Square and W. 42nd. It was especially gay too since it was the weekend gay weddings began in NY. Lots of fun. No, M and I didn't get hitched. No point until DOMA is repealed.
DOMA - Defense of Marriage Act, it's a federal law that says you can't recognize gay marriages at the federal level. What this means is at the state level, if you're allowed to marry or get marital benefits, the federal government says those benefits (that all other married couples get without penalty) are taxable income for gay married couples. It's a financial penalty for any gays who dare get married. What it would have meant for M and I, just for all of us to be on her health insurance through the university, we would have to pay an additional $2,000 in taxes each year just on the insurance. If we accepted any other benefits, they would be taxed too. Lovely, isn't it? Some gay couples are willing to pay extra to have that marriage license, we can't afford to.
Incredible! So, you are 'allowed' to get married (if a State passes a law to say it's OK) but then you're taxed on any benefits - presumably straight couples aren't taxed in this way?
It sounds like the Middle Ages policy of taxing Jews to keep practicing their religion in Christian countries or Christians in Muslim countries....
Oh, and I have yet to understand how making Gay marriage difficult or impossible in any way defends straight marriage. The 'logic' of that argument defeats me every time. You'd think that Gay couples wanting to get married would be a good thing from the point of view of people defending the institution. After all more people are getting married rather than living together.... [shakes head in puzzlement]
That's correct, straight couples are not penalized this way, only gay couples. So think about the numerous benefits that come with marriage. Gay couples can't file joint federal tax returns because the federal government forbids it. So you've already filed jointly at the State level and any tax breaks the State gave you, the feds will tax each person separately as having received income. DOMA also says states can ignore the "full faith and credit" section of the U.S. Constitution and not recognize gay marriages performed in other states. They wrote discrimination into the law. Amazing.
8 comments:
Hey, I was just there last weekend, Times Square and W. 42nd. It was especially gay too since it was the weekend gay weddings began in NY. Lots of fun. No, M and I didn't get hitched. No point until DOMA is repealed.
V V said: No, M and I didn't get hitched.
Two of my friends had a Civil Ceremony recently - still don't know why they don't just call it marriage....
V V said: No point until DOMA is repealed.
DOMA?
DOMA - Defense of Marriage Act, it's a federal law that says you can't recognize gay marriages at the federal level. What this means is at the state level, if you're allowed to marry or get marital benefits, the federal government says those benefits (that all other married couples get without penalty) are taxable income for gay married couples. It's a financial penalty for any gays who dare get married. What it would have meant for M and I, just for all of us to be on her health insurance through the university, we would have to pay an additional $2,000 in taxes each year just on the insurance. If we accepted any other benefits, they would be taxed too. Lovely, isn't it? Some gay couples are willing to pay extra to have that marriage license, we can't afford to.
Incredible! So, you are 'allowed' to get married (if a State passes a law to say it's OK) but then you're taxed on any benefits - presumably straight couples aren't taxed in this way?
It sounds like the Middle Ages policy of taxing Jews to keep practicing their religion in Christian countries or Christians in Muslim countries....
Oh, and I have yet to understand how making Gay marriage difficult or impossible in any way defends straight marriage. The 'logic' of that argument defeats me every time. You'd think that Gay couples wanting to get married would be a good thing from the point of view of people defending the institution. After all more people are getting married rather than living together.... [shakes head in puzzlement]
That's correct, straight couples are not penalized this way, only gay couples. So think about the numerous benefits that come with marriage. Gay couples can't file joint federal tax returns because the federal government forbids it. So you've already filed jointly at the State level and any tax breaks the State gave you, the feds will tax each person separately as having received income. DOMA also says states can ignore the "full faith and credit" section of the U.S. Constitution and not recognize gay marriages performed in other states. They wrote discrimination into the law. Amazing.
It sounds like you need a gay MLK.....
Oh don't get me started on the black community's homophobia.
OK.... [grin]
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