Working at a tax prep office, I've had to learn how the "Defense of Marriage Act" affects the tax options of same-sex couples. Considering that sharing a household involves pretty much the same expenses and obligations that affect straight married couples, it seems unfair that they don't get the same financial breaks. Since conservatives seem to be a lot more rational when it comes to money, maybe activists should start talking about how badly gays are getting shorted dollar for dollar compared to straights who have similar living arrangements with their significant others. It can amount to thousands of dollars, not small change. The standard gay/antigay marriage argument goes something like this:
"You can't go changing the definition of marriage, it will destroy the foundations of marriage itself and civilization will collapse!"... "Why do you have to inflict your hatred on us? We just want to live our lives like you do."... "But it's just a word. Why can't you be happy with civil unions? Why does it have to be 'marriage'?"... (echoing across a vast cavern of time and space)
One protest idea: encourage gay and lesbian couples to cross-marry and share housing. A gay man can marry a lesbian woman, her wife can be officially the wife of another gay man who is married to the first gay man, all sharing living expenses and filing married jointly. Call it marriage, with a sly wink and a Ka-ching! sound. I have actually heard conservatives say that gays are allowed to marry, as long as they marry the appropriate gender, and therefore they shouldn't complain. My solution should satisfy both sides, problem solved!
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