tagged w/ Intersexed
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Tax day is just another reminder that being gay in the United States means being treated differently under the law. While a partnered couple may live in one house, the federal government will see two homes, thereby taxing the couple at a higher rate.
For example, "One is the tax rate. Take two couples where one partner has a taxable income of $20,000 and the other makes $40,000. If they can file their federal taxes jointly, the tax bill would be $8,217.50. Filing separately, the combined bill would be $9,032.50 -- more than $800 higher."
Health Insurance issues pose another unfair financial burden. Heterosexual married couples do not have to claim their spouse's health insurance as income if they use their spouse's plan. If a gay or lesbian signs up under their partner's plan, they have to pay income tax based on the value of the insurance.
"For example, Dan Jessup is a project manager at JPMorgan Chase in Indiana. His partner, Bob Chenoweth, is self-employed, running two businesses out of the couple's Mooresville, Indiana, home. So Chenoweth gets health insurance through Chase.
But Jessup is required to count the company's cost of his partner's benefits as additional income for tax purposes.
State and federal taxes on those benefits cost about $1,800 per year, Jessup said."
So to be clear, gay and lesbian Americans pay more taxes, yet are treated as second class citizens. God Bless America and happy tax day!
Tax day is just another reminder that being gay in the United States means being... more
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The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) released it's updated map of gay rights. The new data reports 7 countries that use the death penalty to prosecute homosexuals. Countries that issue the death penalty for acts of homosexuality include Iran, Sudan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Mauritania. 76 countries imprison homosexuals for anywhere from 1 year to life.
Only 19 countries recognize homosexual unions through marriage or civil unions.
The map is color coded based on the level of protection offered in a given country. The map of the United States is mostly gray (meaning there is no specific legislation for or against LGBTs). There are small circles of color representing state or municipalities that do provide protections in the United States.
The ILGA will release a full length report on state promoted homophobia on May 17.
View the full map here: http://ilga.org/map/LGBTI_rights.jpg
The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) released it's updated map of... more
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