Marriage Equality USA

Tax Day Events

“Each tax season, same-sex couples sit at their dining room tables and are forced to live a legal lie by checking ‘single’ despite their decades together—arbitrarily dividing up their joint household’s income, expenses, and dependents,” states MEUSA Media Director Molly McKay. “Even in states with domestic partnerships or civil unions, we still have to check ‘single’ on our tax forms because our federal government doesn’t consider us a family. Then we write checks to the IRS for higher social security taxes because we can’t file jointly, knowing that when we die our families will not even have access to any of the family ‘safety net’ benefits provided by our tax dollars in the form of social security survivor benefits, estate tax deferral, and other programs that we help fund with our tax dollars—but which only heterosexual married couples and their children will enjoy.”

Join us this tax day (Thursday, April 15th) as local chapters stand up and speak out about this discrimination that faces same-sex couples. Visit the MEUSA website chapter pages for local Tax Dat Event details or click here for a list of Tax Day Events. To learn more about the inequalities that exist in our tax system click here to “Get The Facts”.

Federal Marriage Case 

The national debate over same-sex marriage will take center stage in a California courtroom next week at a closely watched federal trial that could ultimately become the landmark case that determines whether gay Americans have a right to marry.

The case will decide a challenge to California’s gay marriage ban that was approved by voters in 2008, and the ruling will likely be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. How the high court rules in the case could set the precedent for whether gay marriage becomes legal nationwide..

To read more visit our Federal Marriage Case page for updates and news regarding the trial.

Marriage Equality USA will have Dr. Davina Kotulski, Author of "Why You Should Give A Damn About Gay Marriage" watching much of the trial in the coming weeks and blogging about her first hand experience which will be posted to the Marriage Equality USA website so people can follow what is happening.  We will also be posting weekly newsletters that will share the information presented in court.  There are also courtroom sketches by Joanie Laurel posted as well to give you a glimpse of the action inside the courtroom.

Mexico City Gay Marriages Legal

Same-sex couples in Mexico City are now eligible to apply for marriage licenses. The law passed by the local assembly in December took effect on Thursday.

According to the BBC, several same-sex couples are expected to register Thursday to get married as early as next week.

Mexico City is one of the first capitals in Latin America to fully recognize gay marriages. Only Uruguay has legalized civil unions nationwide and allowed same-sex couples to adopt children. Despite the new law in Mexico City, most of the country remains conservative, and a federal law for marriage equality remains unlikely.

“Both the Catholic Church and conservative groups oppose the legislation, and the centre-right government even tried to get a ruling by the Supreme Court to block Mexico City from issuing gay marriage licenses; they have so far been unsuccessful,” reports the BBC.

California's 2010 Push for Equality

Marriage Equality USA has not taken a position in the debate of 2010 or 2012 as the year in which to place an initiative on the ballot in California to restore marriage equality. We support our leaders in whichever decision they choose to make and are here to provide necessary resources and information to be able to assist them in educational efforts. If you would like more information on the official campaign's efforts to restore marriage equality in 2010 we invite you to visit their website at: www.RestoreEquality2010.com.