Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 11:50:30 +0000 Subject: NY Gays Decry Tax Inequity, Call For Civil Marriage Rights From: "Jes=?ISO-8859-1?B?+nMgTGVicvM=?=n" PRESS ADVISORY: Contacts: Danielle Feman April 10, 2000 212-699-1139 dan.elle@mailcity.com Jes=FAs Lebr=F3n 212-543-9887 queerlib@earthlink.net NY GAYS DECRY TAX INEQUITY CALL FOR LEGISLATION SUPPORTING SAME-SEX MARRIAGES On April 17th, millions of Americans will be thinking about money and finances as they prepare to pay annual taxes on their income. Marriage Equality New York, an organization dedicated to securing civil marriage for same-sex couples, will be holding an action to demand an end to tax inequity and to call for legislation in New York that would allow for civil marriages for same-sex couples. This demonstration will be held on the steps of the main post office, the James A. Farley Post Office, on 31 Street and 8th avenue (421 8th Avenue) on Monday, April 17th, at 6:00 p.m. Lesbians and gay men, through discrimination in marriage, are paying a disproportionate share of tax dollars to subsidize a whole set of advantages, benefits, and privileges they do not have. In addition, the possibility of the elimination or reduction of the joint tax burden of married couples, "the marriage penalty tax", is considered to be an affront to many lesbian and gay couples who are not allowed legal access to civil marriage and whose families are not acknowledged. Even with the eventual passage of Vermont's "civil unions" bill, same-sex couples in that state will still find themselves at a disadvantage in terms of real money simply because they cannot marry. Moreover, no matter how long a same-sex couple has been together, they are forced to file tax returns as single individuals while receiving very little in return: Same-sex couples pay into the social security system even though they cannot receive survivor's benefits when their partners die. Gay men and lesbians pay federal taxes for military personnel but, under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, are refused enlistment or discharged if the military should find out. Gay people pay into the state tax system for benefits such as child welfare even though in many states they are prevented from having custody of children, becoming a foster parent, or adopting children. Marriage also creates an advantage when adding a spouse's name to a car title, for instance. Such changes in title are often subject to a conveyance tax unless the new owner is a spouse. This exemption recognizes that property owned by married people is typically treated by the law as jointly owned, even if held in only one spouse's name. An easing of the marriage penalty as proposed by President Clinton and the Republican-lead House of Representatives plan would likely force single adults (homosexual and heterosexual) to pay an even greater portion of taxes. Through discrimination in marriage, it is the gay and lesbian taxpayers that would ultimately suffer. Marriage Equality hopes to send a message to the American public that blatant discrimination in marriage is "unfair, unjust, and plain wrong." Marriage Equality New York will continue the fight to "ensure that all gay men and lesbians obtain equality in the eyes of the law - nothing more, nothing less." For more information please visit our web site: http://www.marriageequality.com ============================================================================== Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 01:43:11 +0000 Subject: Gays To Protest Tax Inequity Today From: "Jes=?ISO-8859-1?B?+nMgTGVicvM=?=n" PRESS RELEASE: Contacts: Tim Cravens April 17, 2000 212-303-8067 Connie Ress, Co-Chair 718-267-7537 GAYS DECRY TAX INEQUITY CALL FOR GREATER PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGES Today millions of Americans will be thinking about money and finances as they rush to pay annual taxes on their income. Marriage Equality New York, an organization dedicated to securing civil marriage for same-sex couples, will be holding an action today to demand an end to tax inequity and to rally in support of civil marriage rights. To be held on the steps of the main post office today, Monday, April 17th, at the James A. Farley Post Office, on 31st Street and 8th avenue (421 8th Avenue) at 6:00 p.m., the protest is based on a theme of "no taxation without representation," and is the first effort by same-sex marriage advocates to raise public awareness on the economic disadvantages facing lesbians and gay men who are denied access to the institution of civil marriage. Danielle Feman, a member of Marriage Equality and an organizer of the event believes lesbians and gay men are getting the short end of the stick and states that, " through discrimination in marriage, we are paying a disproportionate share of tax dollars to subsidize a whole set of advantages, benefits, and privileges that we are denied. By focusing on taxes we hope to raise public awareness on the injustices that lesbians and gay men face without the equal right to civil marriage." Jes=FAs Lebr=F3n, founder of Marriage Equality, and another organizer, is particularly concerned about federal proposals to eliminate or reduce the joint tax burden of married couples, also known as "the marriage penalty tax." President Clinton and House Republicans have described the tax as an "unconscionable attack on marriage and the family." Lebr=F3n believes that while the proposals are "genuine efforts" aimed at addressing the problem, they are nevertheless "an affront to many lesbian and gay couples who are not allowed legal access to civil marriage and whose families are not acknowledged." Lebr=F3n fears that lesbians and gay men will be left to foot the bill and will end up paying an even greater disproportionate share of tax dollars. Marriage Equality believes that eliminating tax inequity through the legalization of same-sex marriages is the only viable alternative and is wary of the shortcomings of domestic partner legislation. The organization points to the limitations in the pending "civil union" bill that has recently passed the Vermont House of Representatives. The bill will not grant same-sex couples many federal perks afforded legally married couples. Openly gay NY State Senator Thomad K. Duane echoes that sentiment and states "while we are proud of the progress we've made with domestic partnership and civil unions, we are still second class citizens until we are granted the right to marry. Anti-gay bigots are still able to impose their views on our lives by preventing legal recognition of same-sex partners which results in an unfair tax burden, no survivors benefits, and difficulties in adopting children." Lesbians and gay men throughout the Unite States are disadvantaged in a myriad of ways through marriage discrimination: Same-sex couples pay into the social security system even though they cannot receive survivor's benefits when their partners die. Lesbians and gay men pay federal taxes for military personnel but, under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, are refused enlistment or discharged if the military should find out. Lesbians and gay men pay into the state tax system for benefits such as child welfare even though in many states they are prevented from having custody of children, becoming a foster parent, or adopting children. An exhaustive list of "tax burdens" imposed on lesbians and gay men can be found at Marriage Equality's web site: http://www.marriageequality.com