The case for civil union protection

[_JoetheClerk]

Internationally known Celebrity Photographer Annie Lebovitz financial problems have come about because when her partner Susan Sontag died and left Annie several properties, Annie had to pony up FIFTY PERCENT of their value in taxes in order to keep them. Had Annie and Susan been seen in the eyes of the government as a legal couple, Annie wouldn't have had to pay anything. Lebovitz has had to borrow against her lifes work as an artist to pay the taxes, in effect pawning her lifes work to pay the Government for a gift left to her by her now dead companion.

This isn't a debate about same-sex marriage, just an argument for fundamental fairness. The state should recognize Annie and Susan's relationship in some way so as to not tax the living hell out of them AGAIN. The problem is that those properties were purchased with after-tax dollars, and the government is treating the assets as if they were transferred to some unknown third party, and re-taxing them.

All lobbying against some kind of civil union whether called 'marriage' or whatever is asinine. A survivor of a union should not be punished because he/she is not recognized as a partner in that union especially when the law does not allow legal recognition. Failure to do so punishes both parties and is vicious, petty and mean.

[_bcspace]

This isn't a debate about same-sex marriage, just an argument for fundamental fairness.

Amen!

All lobbying against some kind of civil union whether called 'marriage' or whatever is asinine. A survivor of a union should not be punished because he/she is not recognized as a partner in that union especially when the law does not allow legal recognition. Failure to do so punishes both parties and is vicious, petty and mean.

What an asinine statement. You just changed it back into a debate about same-sex marriage. The solution is not to add more regulation, the solution is to reduce or eliminate taxes. There is no reason for "civil unions" (a.k.a. gay marriage permission in disguise) whatsoever.