To Be Gay in New York...

 Yesterday, a bill was introduced that would grant married gay couples the ability to file state taxes in New York, if passed.  It's a leap forward considering New York doesn't recognize gay marriage...

New York assemblyman Daniel O’Donnel introduced a bill Tuesday that would grant greater tax equity to gay and lesbian couples.  Current state law forbids gay couples from filing joint income tax returns. The Defense of Marriage Act forbids the recognition of same-sex unions by federal agencies, including the IRS. In New York, an individual’s income tax filing status mirrors his or her federal status. Meaning, if a gay couple cannot file joint federal income tax returns, they may not file jointly in the state.  If passed, the proposed bill would allow married gay couples to file jointly on their state tax returns in spite of their federal status, said On Top Magazine.  Although gay marriages performed in New York are not legal, the state recognizes unions performed in other jurisdictions.

“New York State must remove every statutory barrier to the full recognition of legal same-sex marriages,” O’Donnel said. “Gay and lesbian spouses deserve every financial benefit that currently accrues to heterosexual married couples, regardless of whether or not the federal government recognizes those unions.”  State legislators are making great strides toward equal tax treatment for same sex couples. Still, some activists wonder: Are these new efforts helpful?  Last spring, Washington state lawmakers introduced an initiative that would tax the earnings of same-sex couples in domestic partnerships as they would married couples.  According to Komo News, “I-1077 would tax couples with adjusted gross incomes greater than $400,000 annually, or incomes of more than $200,000 for individuals.”  Gay advocates have expressed concerns that filing joint tax returns would result in unfair penalties for gay couples where only one partner makes more than $200,000.  “You would have seen gay and lesbian families paying significantly more taxes than their similarly situated heterosexual peers,” said Josh Friedes of Equal Rights Washington.

Source 365gay.com

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FMLA for Gays & Lesbians

Change comes one step at a time.  President Obama has done an incredible job of including gay and lesbian people in incremental changes to current policies that exclude gay people.  We need to applaud him for the steps he has taken as opposed to criticizing him for the things he has yet to fulfill....

From our "It's about time" file, gays will be able to leave work to care for an ailing child. President Obama continues to slowly but surely chip away at discrimination against gays by tweaking the Family and Medical Leave Act. President Obama has made a number of small changes that have increased benefits to gays and lesbians since taking office. Under his administration, gay employees have been given long-term health insurance for their partners, day care, and child subsidies. The Federal Housing Authority cannot consider a loan applicant’s sexuality anymore. The Census Bureau will count the number of Americans who say they’re part of a same-sex couple. The president even addressed "modern families" in his Father's Day address. While people are throwing stones at him over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," perhaps they should consider other changes he's made that have a far-reaching impact. Two snaps up!

SOURCE: http://www.eurweb.com/?p=31267

Follow me on Twitter: @therealcstewart