WASHINGTON–As millions of Americans file their income taxes, hundreds of LGBT Americans will participate in National Tax Day Protests on April 15, and on April 18. These protests are being organized to call attention to tax inequities facing same-sex couples as a result of the state and federal laws that deny civil marriage protections to same-sex couples. These actions highlight the ongoing moral and financial costs of marriage discrimination—as well as the consequences paid by all Americans as a result of these unequal state and federal laws. In addition to on-the-ground actions organized by Marriage Equality USA and GetEQUAL, a campaign called “Refuse To Lie” has been launched to challenge the IRS’ requirement that gay married couples file as single.

“We are encouraged by the recent successful legal challenges to Section 3 surrounding the so-called ‘Defense of Marriage Act’ (DOMA) and the introduction of the ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ in Congress. However, same-sex couples are sitting down at their dining room tables to figure out how to file their taxes as ‘single’ in good conscience – despite spending decades together,” said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA Media Director. “Even in the six states in which marriage equality is the law of the land, the IRS does not allow same-sex couples to file as married, despite having a valid marriage license.”

“The IRS is awkwardly trying to recognize community property law for same-sex couples while not recognizing the rest of our relationships, resulting in mass confusion and more expensive tax preparation costs. Even Turbo Tax has thrown up their hands and confirmed they can’t figure out how to create software that can comply with the disparity in how the government treats same-sex couples,” said GetEQUAL Director Robin McGehee. “This is a ridiculous way to treat law-abiding Americans who simply want to share their lives together, file their taxes together, and be recognized as full citizens of this country.”

“More people are refusing to lie on those forms, even though the government is telling them to,” said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, who plans on filing as married with her wife, Andrea. “It would be both dishonest and deeply humiliating to now disavow each other or our marriage and declare ourselves single on our tax form.”

The awkward situation created by this disparity between federal law, state law, and tax code has been covered at the national level. The New York Timesreported Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, as saying, “As a lawyer and a legal advocate for the L.G.B.T. community, I am often in a position to advise people to exercise great caution and to comply in most cases with the letter of the law, even when that means denying who we are. This is my small way of saying, where we can, we are not going to play the game anymore.

Refuse to Lie is a grassroots campaign that aims to make visible the impossible choice gay married couples have in choosing between the truth and the law. In addition to highlighting this injustice, the Refuse to Lie campaign provides resources on what other couples might face if they to “refuse to lie” on their tax returns. The campaign also provides an opportunity for individuals and gay or straight married couples to sign a petition and stand in solidarity with those who are risking their freedom to demand their equality.

For more information go to www.marriageequality.org, www.getequal.org.

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