Keep tax code out of gay marriage debate

Peter Gennuso in a letter to Fence Post expertly explains that many of the marital rights that gay couples refer to while making a case for marriage are not rights after all. I agree with him that most of these perceived marital rights also require legal documents to be filed between two people that specifically detail their wishes.

The one exception Mr. Gennuso points out is with the U.S. tax code which favors married couples in which he concludes that "rather than attempting to redefine marriage, perhaps gay couples should challenge what they perceive to be discriminatory provisions of the U.S. tax code and legal system"

So is he saying that gay couples desire to be married would dissipate if the tax code is redefined?

I wonder how many times that comes up when heterosexual couples want to get married? When I proposed to my wife many moons ago I don't remember asking "Honey, will you marry me because I want that tax break"

Call me crazy but I'm betting the reason many gay couples want to get married is to show a commitment to each other much like heterosexual couples do. Whether or not society will allow gay couples to be married will be debated and played out in the years to come statewide, and in the courts.

However Mr. Gennuso, be careful what you wish for as far as suggesting that gay couples should challenge the U.S. tax code rather than trying to redefine marriage. What will happen then is that a block of heterosexual voters who are not as passionate on this issue as you are will not vote in favor of the Proposition 8 type ballot proposals that are blocking gay marriage if they feel that it will cost them their marital tax deduction.

Dave Holste

Arlington Heights