Gays urge an end to tax discrimination | Seattle P-I

[Ediacara]

Gays urge an end to tax discrimination
The IRS filing deadline brings out the demonstrators


Karen Ducey / P-I
Eli-Daniel Parmenter, right, of the
group Don't Amend argues with Bush-
Cheney supporter Theodore Choi yesterday.
A variety of causes were promoted outside
the downtown Seattle post office.

By CLAUDIA ROWE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Even if getting married meant paying extra taxes, many gay couples in Seattle would be more than willing.

Several dozen gathered yesterday in front of the main post office to impress passers-by hustling to send in their own tax returns about the facts for committed twosomes forced to file singly: They must pay tax on health benefits from which married heterosexuals are exempt; itemize common property deductions in painstaking detail, and lose out on income tax deductions that married couples take for granted.

Their concerns mingled with a throng of other sidewalk demonstrators -- everyone from Freedom Socialist Party members to Bush-Cheney campaign volunteers -- but gays and lesbians advocating legal recognition of their relationships comprised the majority.

More at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

[David__77]

1. If I weren't so exhausted, I would've gone to the one where I live.

Across the country, lesbians and gay men gathered at post offices to protest tax discrimination. I think it's a good idea.

[keopeli]

2. Hey, cool! I was standing just to the right of this guy yesterday!

It was a small demonstration (about 40-50 people) but it was well received. There were a couple of Bush* supporters there too (although I couldn't for the life of me figure out why Bush* supporters were out on Tax Day at the post office, as if to say, "Woo-Hoo! We get to pay taxes today!" I asked on of them half-heartedly why they were there, but they weren't interested in me.

I have to say that, standing by the mailboxes at the main post office on tax day is a good way to get your message to people. I was surprised by how many people passed by and read all the signs.

WHY SHOULD I PAT TAXES IF I DON'T GET EQUAL RIGHTS?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. I guess the * supporters were there

to celebrate the fact that * paid about $43,000 less in taxes this year and Cheney about $100,000 less.

I wonder what kind of refund the grunts got.