since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
Original post by yabbobay
our president is against it...and he says that you are too...what is your opinion?
A strong America must also value the institution of marriage. I believe we should respect individuals as we take a principled stand for one of the most fundamental, enduring institutions of our civilization. Congress has already taken a stand on this issue by passing the Defense of Marriage Act, signed in 1996 by President Clinton. That statute protects marriage under Federal law as the union of a man and a woman, and declares that one state may not redefine marriage for other states. Activist judges, however, have begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected representatives. On an issue of such great consequence, the people's voice must be heard. If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process. Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage.
The outcome of this debate is important -- and so is the way we conduct it. The same moral tradition that defines marriage also teaches that each individual has dignity and value in God's sight.
Stacey1403
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
The problem is that people who are against gay marriage look at homosexuals and think 'sex'. I mean is every heterosexual relationship about sex, no it encompasses so much more. I mean do people really think that gay people just have sex with each other all the time? Then they must be really tired. Homosexuals should have the same rights as all people!!! End of story, period!!!!
heidla
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
Yes, that is true states can decide. The problem is that if you get married in CT. your marriage is not recognized in any of the other states that don't have gay marriage. That is the problem with letting each state decide. Imagine that if you want your marriage recognized having to stay within certain states. Going state by state is a start but , it needs to become part of our constitution. Constitutional law is tougher to get passed but also tougher to change.
shelzyp
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
Becky - states have to leaglize same sex adoptions, I had no clue. I thought it was up the adoption agencies.
Becky
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
Each state regulates marriage and they can define marriage. Most statutes define marriage as between a man and a woman. So it isn't necessarlily that same sex marriages are illegal, so much as they don't meet the definition of marriage. New Hampshire passed a law which legalized same sex marriages a while back. I thought that other states would follow suit much quicker.
The right wing stood up and took notice when within a few weeks of each other the Supreme Court struck down a Texas law that made sodomy between same sex partners a crime and the Mass court struck down a law making same sex marriage illegal. Now you hear all the rhetoric about marriage because the right wing is concerned that similar lawsuits throught the states will have the same result as in Mass.
I wish the Supreme Court had said more about rights of homosexuals. But its hard to get aroung Rehnquist and Scalia (who is pure evil!!!) these days.
OctBride03
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
Back to the topic... honestly I was one of the first to vote YES, but just kept is as that, a vote, but to get back to the topic, I believe that ANYONE should be allowed to get married... Like someone said earlier in the thread, LOVE IS LOVE!
I also think that gay couples should be allowed to adopt. There are so many children out there who need good homes and just plain love!
to everyone!
shelzyp
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
But if you live in NH and get married in NH, do you have to file Married return for federal taxes??
Where does the gov't determine the definition of marriage, if it is a state regulates marriage.
Becky
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
Michelle, family law is regulated by the states. Marriage, divorce, adoption, custody, visitation, etc. Most of the laws we deal with on a daily basis are state laws becuase the states are given much more power to regulate that the federal government. Even the abortion laws are state laws. The Supreme Court only said that the state cannot prohibit abortion. But they can regulate it. Each state has different abortion laws as to when, how, whether the parents have to be informed if the female is a minor.
But the right wing is constantly looking to take the power of the states to regulate these things away. The Repeublicans make it sound like abortion laws were created by the Supreme Court. There were many states that had leaglized abortion way before 1973. The Republicans are the ones who want to take from the state the right to regulate.
Same with same sex marriage. They want to take away a state's right to allow same sex marriages before more states start to permit it.
Becky
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
Uh oh, you just mentioned the t-word. I skipped Taxes is law school for a reason. The numbers, oy vey. I have no idea what they do about that on their federal tax returns.
I also have no idea how a state can refuse to a recognize a marriage that is legal in another state. There is a federal law that says all states will give full, faith and credit to the laws or decisions of another state. So if I sue you in MD and get a judgement against you, the NY courts have to enforce it if I ask them to. It seems strange to me that someone can hold a valid marriage certificate from one state and have another state consider it null and void.
shelzyp
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
Becky - I am a CPA, and got my Masters in Taxation and I don't get it.
Logically speaking - if you are marreid at the state level, which is the only level you are married at, you have to file a joint return.
If it is a legal wedding, then it shouldn't matter what sex the marreid couple is. But since the male is always the taxpayer, even if he makes no money, I can see where that might become a problem.
Becky
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
What?? A CPA?? A Masters in Taxation??
Forget this same sex marriage stuff. When should you take the standard deduction and when should you itemize? How do you end up getting more money back due to the interest you pay on your home? Why is one of my school loan holders reporting that it collected 11K in interest in 2003, when I didn't even pay them that much money??
You must be a genius. This stuff is crazy confusing to me. I have been telling Keith that I think we should go to a CPA this year instead of getting TurboTax again.
shelzyp
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
A genius, yes I am , or so I like to believe.
Q.When should you take the standard deduction and when should you itemize?
A.You take the standard deduction when your itemized eductions are lower then that.
Q. How do you end up getting more money back due to the interest you pay on your home?
A. the gov't wants to reward you by buying a house, so they allow the interest to be taken as deduction, so in the beignning of the loan the interest is high, so you wind up getting more back.
Q. Why is one of my school loan holders reporting that it collected 11K in interest in 2003, when I didn't even pay them that much money?? Mayeb that is how much interest was accrued?? Not really sure on that one?
deby
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
I loved tax in law school I know... I am weird.
Anyway, IRS tax topic 351 defines marriage as: In general, your filing status depends on whether you are considered unmarried or married. A marriage means only a legal union between a man and a woman as husband and wife. I don't know how up-to-date this publication is, but they have it posted on their web site.
shelzyp
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
Okay so for tax purposes the govt' defines it. That makes sense. Thanks for clarifying
deby
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
Actually, they explain it in more detail later- maybe same sex-couples can fit under #2:
Considered married. You are considered married for the whole year if on the last day of your tax year you and your spouse meet any one of the following tests.
You are married and living together as husband and wife.
You are living together in a common law marriage that is recognized in the state where you now live or in the state where the common law marriage began.
You are married and living apart, but not legally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance.
You are separated under an interlocutory (not final) decree of divorce. For purposes of filing a joint return, you are not considered divorced.
Jenn P
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
Posted by shelzyp
But since the male is always the taxpayer, even if he makes no money, I can see where that might become a problem.
I'm sorry-can you explain? Just curious!
shelzyp
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
I think since they said a marraige is a marriage betweena dn husband and a wife, that you cna not file a joint return. Once they say that, the rest is bound by those, as far as waht I no about tax code, which has to be the biggest mumbo jumbo written, since accountants are not the ones writing it.
shelzyp
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
Posted by Jenn P
Posted by shelzyp
But since the male is always the taxpayer, even if he makes no money, I can see where that might become a problem.
I'm sorry-can you explain? Just curious!
When a women and male file a joint return the taxpayer, which is the first line in the tax return, is always the male. It is irregardless that the wife might be the one who works, and the husband doesn't. The husband is always the taxpayer and the iwfe is always listed as the spouse.
Jenn P
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
Gotcha! Thanks.
Jordan
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
Posted by shelzyp
When a women and male file a joint return the taxpayer, which is the first line in the tax return, is always the male. It is irregardless that the wife might be the one who works, and the husband doesn't. The husband is always the taxpayer and the iwfe is always listed as the spouse.
shelzyp
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Re: since this is a wedding website - what is your opinion on same sex marriage?
It really pissed me off when I found this out. The wife was the client and she married, and then all of a sudden became the spouse, even though she made so much more then her husband.
