Today’s New York Times has an eye-opening article about the cost disparities gay and straight couples experience over their lifetimes. In areas like health insurance coverage, Social Security benefits, paying taxes and saving for retirement, same-sex couples usually end up paying more for these policies or are ineligible to receive them.
From a strictly Cheapo point of view, repealing the Defense of Marriage Act is crucial. This 1996 law forbids gay and lesbian couples from receiving any federal benefits that are given to married heterosexual couples, such as spousal Social Security benefits. It also does not compel states to recognize same-sex unions performed in other states, creating a patchwork of state laws that create financial disparity between gays and straights. The result: gay couples pay more. And that’s not exactly a bargain we like.
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