What People Are Saying
Kate Kendall
Sandy and I do our very best to raise our kids to live with integrity, power in the world and openness to what is possible. The core values we try to instill in Julian and Ariana are compromised every time we deny who Sandy and I are to each other and every time we diminish what we mean to each other. We will no longer participate in the government’s erasure of our relationship and our marriage. We want our kids to grow up with the courage to step out and step up, even if it is difficult or risky. For us, refusing to lie on our taxes is a straightforward, and pretty minor way to demonstrate that courage ourselves.
As a lawyer and a legal advocate for the LGBT community, I am often in a position to advise people to exercise great caution and to comply in most cases with the letter of the law, even when that means denying who we are. This is my small way of saying, where we can, we are not going to play the game anymore.
Let's end this hypocrisy and discrimination now.
Barbara
My husband Shawn and I filed early and went with "single" status. Had we known of this effort we would indeed have filed jointly. I hope it's resolved by next year, but if not, then you can count us in to file jointly!
Christopher
It should be changed that all are EQUAL!!!
Cristina
My spouse and I filed for extension this year because of the latest IRS ruling on community property. Now we are thinking of filing as married. I hated lying last year and don't want to continue to disrepect my marriage.
Myra
Forcing same-sex couples who have legally married in their state is nothing short of discrimination. I support all same-sex couples that refuse to lie to our federal government in saying that they are single when that is a lie. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is but a poisonous piece of legislation that is generating more harm that good. It is time to repeal DOMA and allow same-sex couples to not only be honest to their mariage, but to their federal government as well.
Jase
This is an idea whose time has come! We were married on September 20, 2008, and the IRS has required us to lie on our returns the whole time!
Ruth
I am SO ready for next year and the filing of our taxes. Sheila and I have lied for the last time.
Joy Lynn
I'm standing in solidarity with my best friend's daughter, Alexandra and her wife, Chris. Also with two couples (women) in my church, Brooklyn Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Only by getting to know those who are different can we come to like them. The word "love" has too much baggage.
Lucy
Unfortunately, my partner of 11 years and I are still unable to be married in our home state of Colorado, but if we were, we would also refuse to lie. Being able to file jointly would actually save us money on income taxes, especially the taxing of Domestic Partner benefits.
I hate to sound cynical, but I have to wonder... will couples who refuse to lie and end up paying more in taxes be subject to audits, or will couples who are able to lower their taxes by filing jointly be targeted?
Hopefully your bravery will be rewarded, DOMA will finally become a thing of the past, and we will be able to take another step towards equality. Thank you to all of you who are able to take this stand!
Tanya
How insane that they would require someone to lie on a tax form. What happens when they FINALLY decide to go back and penalize those who were forced to lie for all those years? That sounds like just the thing they would do, doesn't it? I support everyone in their struggle to stand for what is right. What they are demanding is the creation of federal criminals and that is flat wrong no matter who you are. Stand firm and know you are not alone.
