Tax Fairness Day
April 15th, a day when the financial burdens for all Americans hit home, Tax Fairness Day aims to highlight the unique circumstances lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families face.
Federal law treats lesbian and gay couples as strangers, thereby denying them the 1,138 federal rights, benefits and protections available to different-sex married couples.
Even when some states provide protections, federal law treats them as strangers - they cannot file taxes jointly, are required to pay taxes on the value of spousal health benefits, and although they pay the same payroll taxes as other Americans, they are excluded from Social Security spousal and survivor benefits.
The Human Rights Campaign is partnering with Marriage Equality USA and Join the Impact to raise awareness about the unique financial inequalities and legal hurdles faced by lesbian aned gay couples when it comes to taxes.
Tuesday April 14th
On Tuesday, April 14th, HRC held a webchat answering questions on a wide range of financial issues affecting LGBT individuals and couples with experts Joe Kapp, Advocate contributor and co-owner of a Washington, D.C., financial planning practice that caters largely to the LGBT community; Kirstin Gulling, an attorney at the law firm Silber, Perlman, Sigman & Tilev who specializes in same-sex family planning, gay and lesbian family law and estate planning; and HRC’s legal director Lara Schwartz.
Read the transcript from last year’s webchat here.
Wednesday, April 15th
On Wednesday, April 15th, the Human Rights Campaign, Marriage Equality USA and Join the Impact are mobilizing a national grassroots force to help educate and raise awareness about the unique circumstances of LGBT couples and individuals. You can take action now by downloading HRC’s grassroots packet and planning to spend time outside your local U.S. Post Office on April 15th, talking with fellow taxpayers about the financial inequalities faced by lesbian and gay couples.
Download the information here.
Find an event near you and download information about the event from the website http://www.taxday2009.com/
