For those who say same-gender marriage is all about love and commitment...
A New York Times blog reports that 83-year-old Edith Windsor sued the government because she has paid over $500,000 in inheritance taxes after her "spouse" Thea Spyer passed away in 2009:
A New York Times blog reports that 83-year-old Edith Windsor sued the government because she has paid over $500,000 in inheritance taxes after her "spouse" Thea Spyer passed away in 2009:
Ms. Windsor’s tax bill was more than $360,000 higher than it would have been if the federal government recognized her same-sex marriage (New York, which legalized same-sex marriage last year, has recognized such marriages performed elsewhere since 2008). The Defense of Marriage Act prohibits same-sex couples from receiving some marriage-based benefits afforded to heterosexual couples, like health care benefits, joint filing of taxes and inheritance tax exemptions.
Should the government treat gender-segregated couples exactly the same as gender-integrated couples? Should tax breaks be awarded for gender segregation in marriage? Or should they continue solely for pro-gender marriage? How important is gender diversity in America?
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Christine C. Quinn, the speaker of the City Council, announced on Wednesday that they intended to file a legal brief arguing that the federal government’s Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional.
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