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'Gay Tax' Hurts Couples Tying the Knot

Federal inequality lands same-sex couples in the poor house

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted May 16, 2009 4:13 PM CDT
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(Newser) – First comes love, then comes marriage, then the taxman, who penalizes same-sex couples with the “gay tax,” Nancy Goldstein writes on NPR. The media’s morality play about gay marriage has overshadowed the economic costs of inequality, argues Goldstein, who calculates her annual tax at $1,820 for coverage on her wife’s health insurance plan.

The federal government’s Defense of Marriage Act bars gay couples from receiving the 1,138 protections and benefits heterosexual mates enjoy—which no doubt explains why gay couples are more likely to be poor, writes Goldstein. Washington’s “insistence on charging same-sex married couples exorbitant fees for basic rights makes it look less like a defender of marriage than a loan shark."

The media's morality play about gay marriage has overshadowed the economic costs of inequality, argues Nancy Goldstein.
The media's morality play about gay marriage has overshadowed the economic costs of inequality, argues Nancy Goldstein.   (Shutter Stock)
The media's morality play about gay marriage has overshadowed the economic costs of inequality, argues Nancy Goldstein.
The media's morality play about gay marriage has overshadowed the economic costs of inequality, argues Nancy Goldstein.   (Shutter Stock)
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Our current administration and Congress are full of officials who are quick to pay lip service to the concept of equality but won't lift a finger to change the law. - Nancy Goldstein, NPR

DOMA doesn't just hurt our pride: It undermines our ability to take care of one another. - Nancy Goldstein, NPR

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
freethemall
May 18, 2009 5:50 AM CDT
It doesn't make a bit of difference whether it's called "marriage", or "civil unions" or whatever, IF gay couples have the same rights and responsibilities. But the defense of marriage act prevents gays couples of these rights and responsibilities, unless this article on which we are commenting is a lie.
kokuaguy
May 17, 2009 11:23 AM CDT
At 1:15 a.m. Hawaii time I'm number one on Newser with 1179 points. I assume my points will have fallen off enough by the time that jemikeos gets started again in Chicago that he will soon knock me back down to Number 2. Whatever- it was fun to be on top for awhile. ;^)
Corona_Kinq
May 17, 2009 6:31 AM CDT
Uh, you might wanna do a little more research on the history of marriage. Marriage history isn't as religous as you think. One would argue that its main function was a legal agreement between families...hence dowries, and the treatment of women as property.

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