Equal Junction

How filing our taxes as a Gay married couple are different from heterosexual, married couples:

1. As we all know the federal government does NOT recognize us as a married couple even though WE ARE and it doesn’t even matter where we live. Even though we are in California (one of the 18,000 legally married couples). We will pay more in taxes and receive fewer benefits than married, opposite-sex couples receive. Only point number 1 and we are already getting heated.
2. In regards to tax preparation. Differences in state and federal filing rules mean that married, same-sex couples must calculate 2 sets of state tax returns. Guess what? That’s more time spent on those returns and, for same-sex couples using an accountant, that’s more of an expense.
3. Tax punch number 3 comes through employer-based health insurance benefits. Unlike coverage for opposite-sex spouses, benefits for legally married, same-sex spouses are taxed as income to the employee.
4. For same-sex couples who have real estate, they can file their real state returns as a married couple! Oh but wait, since federal law prohibits them from filing their federal tax return as a married couple, the forms require tax calculations from state returns completed as if they were single.

Talk about a kick in the teeth!

Photo Courtesy VIA

We are very proud that we marched with Deb Mell back in ‘04 in Chicago for equal marriage. We are very happy to have been legally wed in California, but, like Mell, we too would love to exchange vows in our home state of Illinois.

Photos Courtesy of Wiki Commons

Newly appointed 13th President, Raynard S. Kington, M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. of Grinnell College is an openly Gay, African-American father of two.

Kington went to University of Michigan entered a dual undergraduate and medical school program which allowed him to attain his B.S degree at the age of 19, and a M.D. at the age of 21. He completed his residency of Internal Medicine at Michael Reese Medical Center in Chicago.

Grinnell College is very fortunate to have an accomplished person as their president!

Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons

We pulled off our dream wedding in West Hollywood, CA, which was only difficult because of the time crunch… seriously how hard is it to be fabulous in West Hollywood.  But if your in the great, free land of Iowa, you’ll have all the time in the world and you should have the best help for it.

Start your wedding planning out right with a great resource and run by a guy truly committed to the fight for equality. Christopher Diebel has been working the good fight, walking the walk, nominated to President Obama’s GLBT steering committee, and we should utilize his great site.  Rock on Chris and Iowa, oh the progressive land of Iowa…. Why is writing this making our stomach’s feel ironic.

Photo Courtesy of My Iowa Gay Wedding