Interesting Article: "Being married doesn’t count when gay partners do their taxes"
~The Orlando Sentinel
ORLANDO, Fla. — When Kathryn Norsworthy fills out her federal tax-return forms, she does so as a single person. So does her wife.
“When we file taxes, it’s sort of like we’re roommates,” Norsworthy said of her inability to legally combine incomes with her partner of 17 years, Deena Flamm. “There’s no legal connection.”
There are many advantages to filing a joint tax return, tax experts say, but because same-sex marriages and partnerships, though legal in some states, are not recognized under the federal Defense of Marriage Act, gay couples don’t have access to the same tax benefits available to married heterosexuals...
Read the Full Article
Monday, February 27, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Letter I Received from Senator Al Frankin about Repealing DOMA
January 5, 2012
Dear Justin,
Thank you for contacting me about the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). I appreciate hearing from you on this critical issue.
DOMA, which was passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton in 1996, excludes same-sex couples from marriage and allows states to refuse to recognize legal same-sex marriages from other states. This law discriminates against same-sex couples in committed, long-term relationships.
Several federal courts have recently ruled that DOMA is unconstitutional. Further, the Department of Justice has recently announced that it will no longer defend DOMA in court.
As you may know, I have long supported equal rights for all Americans, regardless of race, sex, religion, or sexual orientation. For this reason, I am a proud cosponsor of S. 598, the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA and allow the federal government to recognize legal same-sex marriages.
This bill is just one of many steps in ensuring same-sex individuals and couples enjoy the same rights as other Americans. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this and other initiatives that will further that goal.
Thank you again for contacting me, and please do not hesitate to do so in the future on this or any other matter of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Al Franken
United States Senator
Dear Justin,
Thank you for contacting me about the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). I appreciate hearing from you on this critical issue.
DOMA, which was passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton in 1996, excludes same-sex couples from marriage and allows states to refuse to recognize legal same-sex marriages from other states. This law discriminates against same-sex couples in committed, long-term relationships.
Several federal courts have recently ruled that DOMA is unconstitutional. Further, the Department of Justice has recently announced that it will no longer defend DOMA in court.
As you may know, I have long supported equal rights for all Americans, regardless of race, sex, religion, or sexual orientation. For this reason, I am a proud cosponsor of S. 598, the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA and allow the federal government to recognize legal same-sex marriages.
This bill is just one of many steps in ensuring same-sex individuals and couples enjoy the same rights as other Americans. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this and other initiatives that will further that goal.
Thank you again for contacting me, and please do not hesitate to do so in the future on this or any other matter of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Al Franken
United States Senator
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Letter I Received from Barack Obama about LGBT Rights!
White House
Washington
January 17, 2012
Dear Friend:
Thank you for writing. We must stand united to protect liberty and justice for all our citizens, and I appreciate your perspective on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights.
My Administration has taken a number of steps to address issues affecting the LGBT community. On December 22, 2010, I was proud to sign the repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. This repeal strengthens our national security while upholding the very ideals our service members fight to defend. With the repeal’s swift and efficient implementation, thousands of Americans in uniform are no longer forced to bear the added burden of secrecy and isolation in order to serve our country.
Our values are also protected by the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which I was honored to sign into law. This law adds Federal protections against crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation to existing civil rights protections.
In addition to these important developments, I signed a Presidential Memorandum directing hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to give all patients the compassion and security they deserve in their time of need, including the ability to choose who can visit them and make medical decisions. I also extended benefits to same-sex partners of Federal employees in the Foreign Service and Executive Branch. To help take on discrimination in all its forms, we are working to ensure core Federal housing programs are open to all. Additionally, we ended the ban on entry to the United States for people living with HIV/AIDS and issued the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy.
While we have made great strides, much work remains in the quest for equality for LGBT individuals. I have consistently called for the legislative repeal of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and my Administration will no longer defend the constitutionality of Section 3 of DOMA—which I believe violates the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment—in court. I have also urged Congress to pass the bipartisan Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, and I support an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Adoption rights must be secured for LGBT families, and we need to ensure our children are free to learn in supportive environments in school. For information about my commitment to preventing bullying and harassment, along with resources for those facing bullying, please visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/ItGetsbetter and www.StopBullying.gov.
Thank you, again, for writing. To learn more about my Administration’s efforts to create a more open and tolerant society, please visit: www.WhiteHouse.gov/LGBT.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
Washington
January 17, 2012
Dear Friend:
Thank you for writing. We must stand united to protect liberty and justice for all our citizens, and I appreciate your perspective on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights.
My Administration has taken a number of steps to address issues affecting the LGBT community. On December 22, 2010, I was proud to sign the repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. This repeal strengthens our national security while upholding the very ideals our service members fight to defend. With the repeal’s swift and efficient implementation, thousands of Americans in uniform are no longer forced to bear the added burden of secrecy and isolation in order to serve our country.
Our values are also protected by the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which I was honored to sign into law. This law adds Federal protections against crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation to existing civil rights protections.
In addition to these important developments, I signed a Presidential Memorandum directing hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to give all patients the compassion and security they deserve in their time of need, including the ability to choose who can visit them and make medical decisions. I also extended benefits to same-sex partners of Federal employees in the Foreign Service and Executive Branch. To help take on discrimination in all its forms, we are working to ensure core Federal housing programs are open to all. Additionally, we ended the ban on entry to the United States for people living with HIV/AIDS and issued the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy.
While we have made great strides, much work remains in the quest for equality for LGBT individuals. I have consistently called for the legislative repeal of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and my Administration will no longer defend the constitutionality of Section 3 of DOMA—which I believe violates the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment—in court. I have also urged Congress to pass the bipartisan Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, and I support an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Adoption rights must be secured for LGBT families, and we need to ensure our children are free to learn in supportive environments in school. For information about my commitment to preventing bullying and harassment, along with resources for those facing bullying, please visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/ItGetsbetter and www.StopBullying.gov.
Thank you, again, for writing. To learn more about my Administration’s efforts to create a more open and tolerant society, please visit: www.WhiteHouse.gov/LGBT.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Top 10 Reasons to Legalize Gay Marriage - Article Featured
Thank you to Cmvlive.com for featuring my article on your page - Top 10 Reasons to Legalize Gay Marriage.
Let me just say that I know it's been awhile since I posted on this blog but I intend to post more very soon.
I am a straight married man with a baby girl on the way, but I believe everyone deserves to have the legal right to marry and be happy. If my little girl is gay, so be it. I always said I am going to be a supportive Dad no matter what my children want to do with their lives as long as they're happy that's all that matters to me.
Thank you for your support and Support the Defense of Gay marriage and the defense of human rights for everyone, everywhere!
Let me just say that I know it's been awhile since I posted on this blog but I intend to post more very soon.
I am a straight married man with a baby girl on the way, but I believe everyone deserves to have the legal right to marry and be happy. If my little girl is gay, so be it. I always said I am going to be a supportive Dad no matter what my children want to do with their lives as long as they're happy that's all that matters to me.
Thank you for your support and Support the Defense of Gay marriage and the defense of human rights for everyone, everywhere!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Rick Perry Response - I'm NOT a Christian and am NOT Anti Gay
Here's my response to the Rick Perry Strong Video, the most DISLIKED video on Youtube!
I'm not ashamed NOT to be a Christian, but you don't need to be in Bed every Sunday to know there's something wrong in this country when Republicans can say that children not praying in schools is Worse than not giving people, like Gay people rights. Religious Extremism is Dangerous! It always has been, it always will be, and it takes a non- Christian to understand that. Non- Christians are just as good of people as Christians are if not Better!
I'm Justin and I approve this message.
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