Lack of Gay Marriage in Oregon Costs One Couple $4,800

While we are domestic partners under Oregon law, and so can legally file a joint Oregon tax return, it is illegal for us to file joint Federal taxes. So, we must pay extra tax consultant fees to have an artificial, “as if”, joint Federal return prepared, from which our joint Oregon taxes are calculated. Then we must throw it away and file our Federal taxes “as if” we were single. As a result, we know exactly how much tax we would have paid were we allowed to file a joint Federal tax return, and therefore exactly how much more we were forced to pay for being gay, despite our longer than heterosexual average relationship. And, all of this due to the so-called “Defense” of Marriage Act (DOMA). $4,799.00 we’d still have in the bank if we were straight has been taken away, because some Americans are worried their marriages must be “defended” against people like us. Which makes me laugh. As a recovering divorce lawyer, I know first hand just how short and sordid many so-called “traditional” marriages can be ( Jason Alexander and Britney Spears: 55 hours ). Straights need no help degrading the institution of marriage. Matthew 7:3 is so very apt, for those who read the Bible, instead of selectively beat people with it. Full Story from Blue Oregon

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