Prop 8: A Taxing Issue For Melissa Etheridge

I have long argued that as a gay person I should get an income tax break because I do not have equal rights. Maybe a 50 percent discount on federal taxes and 25 percent off state taxes. That seems fair to me. Of course, when I say this, people—even my gay friends—dismiss me as a lunatic.

Well, it looks like I'm not the only one thinking like this because California resident Melissa Etheridge just wrote a blog post for The Daily Beast positing that she shouldn't pay any state taxes at all and should be eligible for a federal tax break, too, now that the anti-gay marriage measure Proposition 8 has passed.

"Okay, so I am taking this to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen. I mean that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights, sounds sort of like that taxation without representation thing from the history books," writes Melissa, who first exchanged vows with her partner Tammy Lynn Michaels in 2003 and was planning to marry her again after gay people won the right to legally wed in California earlier this year.

Melissa continues: "Okay, cool. I don't mean to get too personal here, but there is a lot I can do with the extra half a million dollars that I will be keeping instead of handing it over to the state of California. Oh, and I am sure Ellen will be a little excited to keep her bazillion bucks that she pays in taxes, too."

I am not in the same tax bracket as Melissa or Ellen DeGeneres or even Alec Mapa. Most of us aren't. But can you imagine the hit state and federal governments would take if gay people didn't pay taxes?

While I love the idea, I suspect most people would be afraid to cross the IRS. Then again, if a lot of us did it, the IRS likely wouldn't even have the resources to bust all of us. They'd probably just go after rich gay people like Melissa and Ellen.

Alright, maybe this is just a pipe dream.

But I would love it if at the very least some enterprising gay organization sued the IRS, claiming it is wrongful to collect taxes from gay people given that we don't have equal rights. I could get behind that and would happily donate money to pay for the lawsuit. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if Melissa offered to fund the entire lawsuit herself!

So, my fellow gay, tax-paying American citizens, what do you think of this idea? Is it ridiculous to think we shouldn't pay equal taxes? Or does it make sense?

Maybe you tax attorneys can give advice to those who are seriously considering not paying up come tax time!

(Images courtesy of Getty)

Comments

[kb]

Amen to that! We should get what we pay for!

[semper39]

Ask Wesley Snipes advice on tax matters. You can write to hime care of the federal prison system.....................By the way, Melissa Etheridge will pay her taxes, she's all mouth and no guts.

[HT]

Off to jail she goes, where I'm sure she will have sex...

[JD]

But honestly guys and gals, why are we not making a bigger stink? I sure the hell as a poor college student would love to not have to pay taxes. I am already stuck paying for children I didn't create, paying for 'families' to get food-stamps when I can't get on cent of help because I made $200 above the line last year. Why are we forced to participate with a group that dosent care about us... as un unequal citizen I should not have to be held to the bar of a fully equal citizen.

[Corey]

So, Lets start a class action lawsuit, if thousands upon thousands of Gay men and women sue then they can't argue. Somebody call LAMBDA

[Johnny]

Honestly, you other people commenting should take this seriously. That's a very valid point. No taxation without representation! End these injustices. Give us marriage or give us benefits! You can't deny both( unless the rest of you continue to sit around and allow it).

[Robert]

Now we have Prop. 8 winning because 70% of the black vote in California was in favor of it, here is a direct Obama quote:

"I do not support gay marriage. Marriage has religious and social connotations, and I consider marriage to be between a man and a woman." (From the Human Rights Campaign's 2008 Presidential questionnaire) - Barack Hussein Obama

Obama is no friend of the gay community and never will be.

As gays we need to stop automatically giving the Democrats a blank check every election, especially when they clearly do not support our equal rights. Demand they fight for our rights everyday (not just when it is politically convenient for them) or no money.

[shannon mccollam]

I think it's brilliant..It makes perfect sense and this could be a way to make a huge statement to our government,state and local reps..We are not afforded the same equality as heterosexuals..I'm tired of the Government and hypocritical christian activist pushing these constitutional amendments to deny us our basic rights according to the Constitution...I say we the discriminated people should start a petition and present this logical case to the supreme court...Now, who is going to have the balls to represent this???????

[Ralph]

Already stated this was a good idea for getting back at those who denied us equal rights! When are you going to listen!?

Like a bunch of babies, couch sitters, complainers. Stop your bitching and make a difference!

[Mike]

No! We don't pay equal taxes. We pay more taxes, since we cannot file jointly. Not only do we have bans on gay marriage, but also have a "gay couple tax." (Taxation without Representation?)

Maybe our community lawyers can come up with a way to bundle all the rights of marriage using current laws we have, and create tight packages we can pick up and apply. If there was enough of us, we could bog down the courts. Then maybe they would notice?

[Jamie]

What kind of example is she to marriage. She did not stay with here partner. They separated, very hypocrital.

[Sargon Bighorn]

Gay-Americans, Men in particular tend to shy away from controversy. Parties, drugs, shoes, and looking for the next man are more of an immediate concern (nothing wrong with it, Love). But if you want equality under the law you will have to suffer to get it. I'm not sure many of the urban gay men are ready for that sort of discomfort.

[Jeff]

I think she is right. I don't think we should have to pay equal taxes. No taxation without representation. I have been doing tax returns for a lot of years and I see the savings a couple has being married compared to those who aren't.

I think we should fight for what is right. It's time for equality for everybody in this country so we can grow as a whole.

[Chris]

Melissa's is logical and has a historical precedence: early Americans revolted because they weren't being represented. A tax revolt is always the most effective kind of resistence. Does anyone know of an organization that is working to make this happen? This is a movement that I'd get behind.

[Bill]

First, I think it's a great idea to call your representative and ask him/her about the taxation issue. It will definately start some conversations. Second, please don't say "taxation without representation', that 'representation' means that you don't have a representative at the federal level, as in Washington DC. They pay taxes but have no one in congress to represent them. It has nothing to do with a gay person's taxation.

[Art]

Protect Marriage!

Outlaw Divorce!!

[KC]

"What kind of example is she to marriage. She did not stay with here partner. They separated, very hypocrital."

From what I remember, it was her partner that left Melissa. She pulled an Anne Heche and decided she was straight.

[Jon]

I don't know why so many of my gay friends are Democrats.

I am a Libertarian and here is what they say about gay marriage:

While Libertarians hold many different views on the issue of gay marriage, with some believing marriage, both straight and gay, should not be an issue for government and others believing that gay marriage should be recognized so long as straight marriage is recognized--Libertarians believe "government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships."

[Brandon Sills]

as an untaxable citizen, the last 5 years of collecting a non-taxable income helps me see the differences on both sides.

and i agree with a lot of people on this issue in certain aspects.

for example on my end, when i had a job, i was paying taxes. but when i started getting 5 hours a week rather than 40, even the DHS office wouldn't supply me with food stamps to float myself. they were too busy giving 150 bucks to illegal immigrants.

when i started living on disability, i was over-helped considering my income. the first 8 months of this year, i was under-helped on a low income. now things are leveling out.

this means the time to strike is coming soon. i say for the new fiscal tax year, everybody should argue equal tax rights. it's only fair. i wouldn't want to get a job to pay taxes to homeland security or newborn babies i didn't procreate for, or even wars. it's bullshit.

i'd be a little pissed off too if i found my tax dollars were going to someone's plastic surgery even!

and now i wait for the flack due to being on disability, because everybody's a disrespectful fuckin' hypocrite. *smile*

[Will]

Sad.Some of you sound soo bitter and envious of Malissa. Were ALL human, big deal with her and some other. Pathetic how you have to state it like higher than thou attitude.She still strives to move foward.Than stuck in the past.

I'm for the no tax. But again some of us don't anyways.

[CJ]

She is right, if we aren't equal we shouldn't have to pay. I've been saying this all week to my co-workers. I've been on strike now for the past week because of all this. Why should I be nice and curtious to others when I'm not equal? I mean why should I hold a door for someone or offer to help them? I'm not their slave. Why help people whom won't view me as an equal? If they are supposedly better than me, then why can't they do it themselves? It's stupid. I shouldn't help anyone whom won't help themselves, let alone me. America is making some huge mistakes right now, and all people are doing is bitching about it. We are not equal, we are second rate citizens, so why should we have to fight for this country? Why should we have to pay taxes? Why don't our votes count as more since we pay more taxes? I mean hello! If we want change, we have to do more than just complain. This is war.

[Pete]

This is a great idea and a good start. But American gay people need to get organized under one umbrella organization or coalition that can coordinate the efforts of all. If all gay people participated in nationwide boycotts, there would be results just as when black people boycotted back during those days we would all like to forget. Unify. Unite. Organize. In unity there is strength.

[tyler]

I argued this same point w/ my parents 25 yrs ago. If I'm a second class human being then I should get a tax break. I should get a lot of breaks. They weren't too amused by my theory btw.
I would support a law suit if a gay national organization sponsored it.

[bjorn77]

All gays should just leave America. Move to Canada or Europe, then the government and citizens would see just how valuable we are. Gay men typically make a good deal of money and we spend so much of our money. If a majority of gays were actually to leave the states, that would send a message.

[Randy]

Does the constitution have a definition of who is a "man" and who is a "woman"? Who is to say that I am a woman and you are a man?

[Joey]

I agree. We live in a society where there is so much division in our community that the rest of the country gets away with separate but equal in what is supposed to be a modern day climate. However, at the same time that it seems to me that the wheels are moving all too slowly and ineffectively, I am starting to see some progress being made. I would like to see more radical change, but I'm afraid that as a gay community, we just don't have the strength to pull together enough and mobilize.

[Randy]

I just posted this in my blog:

Prop 8 passed in CA defining that marriage is only a union between a "man" and a "woman", but does it include a definition of man or woman?

What is a man or a woman? There have been people born as XX that developed a significant male anatomy. And vice-versa.

There have also been male circumcisions that have gone drastically awry, and the parents elected to ask the doctor to assign a different gender profile to the child.

And that doesn't even touch the other variations, like extra X or extra Y chromosomes.

Not even talking about gender-reassignment here.

So if we define a man as XY and a woman as XX, then anyone else can never get married, no matter what church camp they go to?

How about defining marriage as a union between two adult humans? (I think there is enough genetics to define a human...)

That takes care of the "I want to marry my dog" arguement, and the "I want to marry a child".

Is this rational?

[Kevin]

I def. agree with the idea of tax breaks since we are not afforded the same legal rights as hetero's. And for the past few years, I have also felt a Federal Lawsuit was in order for the rights of homosexuals to marry.

[jen]

i agree with Melissa. We should get a tax credit or refund and especially why do we have to pay into social security that if we die our partners won't get a dime with it. if they give civil unions with the same benefits as marriage, most of us would be happy. It's not hard for those ding dongs of capital hill to do it. what makes me more angry is the churches are taking away my rights and they don't pay taxes!! to be fair repeal the tax exempt for churches! As for obama, hopefully he would come down the middle to make both sides happy or come next election, I'm voting independent. And as for African Americans voting 70% for the ban.. When mlkjr preach about civil rights, He wasn't just talking about only black people,but for all! As for me being African American, this overshadows the happiness i was supposed to feel about Obama winning. This election have shown us that we really need to do more and fight and Be heard and to teach people that we are normal.

[Rocco]

I agree 100%. I have been saying this to my partner for the last 8 years. I feel that as a second class citizen I should only be paying second class taxes. It's crazy how the people that consider us to be abnormal or an abomonation don't mind that our taxes pay for the schools their children go to. Go get them Melissa, I'll be right behind you. :-)

[David Fowler]

Plain and simple...this is one of the greatest fucking ideas I've ever heard in my entire life!!! I would heartily support any and all action toward it. I would also gladly support the repeal of tax exempt status for churches and other religious organizations. The Religious Right would squeal like the scum sucking pigs they are!

[Natalie Davis]

Civil disobedience is a long-held tradition.

Remember the Boston Tea Party? No taxation without representation?

Remember Gandhi's civil disobedience? He said that when a law is immoral, the only moral thing to do is to break it.

Remember Rosa Parks & MLK, who went to jail? Without them BREAKING THE LAW, Obama would not be president-elect today.

Sometimes you gotta take a risk and take a stand simply because it's the right thing to do. And second-class citizenship feels like prison to me, every day of this miserable second-class life...

So yes, I'm with Melissa. No taxation without equality. No longer will I be complicit in funding my own diminishment under law.

More at ALL FACTS & OPINIONS
http://gratefuldread.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/etheridge-no-taxation-without-equality/

[Randy]

Oops, by the way, I am also totally into not paying taxes.

Just ignore everything I said before about a possible way to fight this.

Also, as far as my Dr. has told me, I am totally a Male!

[Sean Egan]

You guys, we really need to stop fighting amongst ourselves and unite in order to fight this. We are all brothers and sisters in this. We can do this guys. We just to organize.

[GM]

I am a man's man, I don't fight amongst these bitches ,therefore I am not going to unite with them in that way.
Speak for yourself!
If you wanna fight, then stick your own head up your ass & fight for air.
but I have been saying the same thing for years.
But my balls aren't nearly as big as Melissa's Money.
But still, I am not going to pay my Taxes this year.
The best things in life are free.
Finally I just might live out one of my OZ fantasies with that Special Victims Unit Chris Malone or better yet maybe I will get stuck in the same jail cell as Robert Gant.
Don't Blame Obama becasue he is Dark GREY.
He straight, what do you expect.
Blame San Francisco's Mayor for the way he said ---
Whether you like it or not!

[gm]

& who is this cutie leaning on the "HOT TOPICS" header atop this page.
What is his name?
Hook me up!
I will marry him along with other illiegal or legal things.
lol

[UKSTUD]

ITS TRUE........legal representatives ARE preparing to take this to court!!!
When you pay taxes, part of that revenue is returned as service back to the people equally....unless we are treated unequally, such as in todays case. If we pay taxes on an equality basis, the reciprical should be expected too.
WE NEED TO ALL ECHOE THIS ISSUE!

[Jeff]

Really? Come on people??? Lets truly think about all this, we can't marry, we can marry, we can marry, we can't..How many time are we going to go through he same steps. This mandate must be on the federal level, and it should effect ALL states with no grandfather clause... You don't see straight peoples marriages being overturned every other year do you??

SO Melissa PLEASE you, Ellrn, Rosie, Drad adn whomelver else you can get start the national campaign to once and for all make the USA EQUAL FOR ALL not just the select....

Not paying taxes will only effect the kids schools and health care programs for our friends and family, do you really think it will have any other impact, those programs are the first hit when the money runs low, not salaries or military spending....

WE CAN ONLY WIN WHEN WE ALL STICK TOGETHER AS ONE GROUP NOT GAY NOT LESBIAN NOT TRANS GENDER BUT AS "ONE"

UNITED WE STAND AND DIVIDED WE WILL CONTINUE TO FALL

[For the record]

Although the premise sounds reasonable, taxes pay for our societal needs like police and fire protection, among other services. Our legislation conveniently mix pork barrel spending with legitimate needs. I suggest every city establish a GBLT Chamber of Commerce where registered businesses will receive our patronage. Now only the greedy will suffer and not innocent citizens.

[Jack]

All of a sudden, liberals don't want to pay taxes? Rich liberals, at that!

Obama would tell Melissa that she's being "selfish."

[mike]

I completely agree.
I've always felt that if we are denied equal rights and equal protection then why should we pay the same taxes as equivalent heterosexuals?

On the topic of taxes -- is there any movement to revoke the tax exempt status of the religious organizations that have jumped into the political arena??

[axisleo]

Guys don't push it; we just elected an African American president. Rome wasn't built in a single day. It will take time; but I’ll come, but not now. Relax be with your partners enjoy life, we shouldn’t care if the government don't allowe gay's get merry or not. Just enjoy life, be a good person and forget about legal gay marriages, it just won’t happen, not yet.

[Dan]

While I agree with Melissa that we should be granted a special tax break based on our second class status, I find it highly doubtful that it would be in the best interests of our society as a whole in consideration of our current financial state. These tax monies pay for essential services that we ALL enjoy.

Our focus should be on revoking the tax exempt status that religious institutions hide behind as they attack us. If they are allowed to lobby and be politically active from the pulpit, then we need to strip them of any special tax perks they receive. The option should be stick to your faith or pay.

One of the biggest offenders is the Mormon church and here is how we can go about achieving this:

To report the LDS Church to the IRS, simply take 5 minutes to print these articles out and any others you can find:

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10839546
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10842051

Then print, sign and send the attached form (already completed) or download a blank and fill it out yourself at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f3949a.pdf

List the taxpayer as:

Thomas S. Monson, et al
50 East North Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150

List his occupation as President and the business as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Check the boxes for False Exemption and Public/Political Corruption.

Then in the Comments section demand that the LDS Church be fined and their tax-exempt status revoked for repeated and blatant violations of the IRS's separate of church and state rules, and for conspiring to interfere with a state's political process.

Check Yes under "Are books/records available?" and write in "campaign finance records."

You don't have to provide any of your own personal info. Mail the form and the printed articles to:

Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888

[Eddie (aka Bacchusgr1975)]

Prop. 8 didn't pass because gay activists were out matched by funding from the Mormon Church and other religious groups. But the answer isn't separating ourselves form society. We all need to carry the torch for gay rights. So put down the Neiman Marcus catalog once in a while and talk to a co-worker, neighbor, or family member about the importance of gay rights. Personify the issue. People care about us they may haven't ever consider how much they're hurting us.

[Adam]

What an absolutely ridiculous argument! First, yes I'm pissed off that my rights were taken away and now my marriage is not seen as valid.

But we need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture here. How are we ever supposed to be viewed as anything but a reactionary group of individuals who are more focused on what's good for them individually than on society as a whole.

Our schools are in sad shape as it is and withholding taxes for that will only harm the future. How about pushing for our taxes, designated for schools, to be used to teach tolerance, understanding and equality for all.

Fighting hate with hate will get us no where. I for one am proud to pay my taxes in the hopes that the future generations will be more tolerant than the generation we all belong to.

[Sean Egan]

Actually, what we need to do is repeal DOMA. Then we can get married in CT, and go to whatever state we want to.

[Mike]

Okay, I am all for this!!! What sign should I hold and where should I stand? It's over due and I am soo sick of people saying that marriage is between man and woman because "god" say's so, since when does marriage have anything to do with "God"??? Why is everyone playing the "God" card and not keeping church and state separate? Not everyone believes in this "god" being, so why should we all have to suffer under evangelistic bigots???

[Shane]

Cock-blocking the tax system is not the answer! Time to continue to speak out and perhaps- the wealthier members of our community in California included: don't vote republican. If you can brag about paying 1/2 million in taxes, perhaps take the remainder of what u make and support more grass roots initiatives to eradicate hate at a local community level. That's the most effective place (and yes, the hardest) to make change.

[JT]

A couple points:
1) Obama is FOR civil unions that bestow exactly the same rights as a religious marriage. He said so directly. So knock off the ignorant bashing. He's right. The church can choose the rules of their sacraments. It's the LAW which must be equal to all citizens, and Obama is for that.

2) I've been saying this very same thing for years, when partnered and when single. If they wanna treat us like 2nd class citzens, then we take that on and pay equal to that status.

3) Those amongst us who work on the books, with W2/W4 every year, need to unite, for the safety of numbers. Let's see the homophobic bigots argue why we SHOULD pay equal taxes while they themselves declare us unequal. Those who work under the radar already have this prerogative.

The ACLU said anything on this?

Finally, the bottom line is that what we need to be suing for is Equal Protection under the U.S. Constitution. Some politician dodged the gay marriage question by saying it should be up to the States, and that convenient excuse has been used all too often lately. Since when are Civil Rights and the Bill of Rights something to be granted or denied by anyone, including the States? THAT is the real problem, the thing we must get handled. Once the Federal Government declares us equal citizens in all matters, the whole war is over.

Don't pay taxes at all. When they ask why, point out that you've been declared a non-equal citizen. When they ask why you're not paying partial taxes, tell them that you're making up for all the years that we queers have funded the very tyranny and oppression that has held us down all this time. Will they buy it? Nope. They'll claim that such is not their department/problem, just like the jerks at Customer Support blame things that are not right on some vague other department (even though they get their checks from the same entity.) They will say that we have the right to try to change the law, to appeal it, etc. And then we reply "Yes, and we're using that tax money to pay for doing so. You'll start getting taxes again when we're treated the same as every other citizen in this nation.

I'm pretty sure the least you'll gain is the taxes... and we might just find equality in civil disobedience.

[James]

I agree-why am I paying school taxes for everyone elses children just because I own a home-that my partner might or might not get.