Financial whiz Suze Orman appeared on
CNN to discuss the economic harms the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
causes.
DOMA is the 1996 law which prevents
federal agencies from recognizing the legal marriages of gay and
lesbian couples.
“It costs [married gay couples]
anywhere from 5 to $9,000 more per year in taxes because of those
benefits or added income to themselves. Now that is money that
doesn't go into the economy. Now while it's true that they pay more
in taxes, the taxes are not in the United States of America what
holds up the economy. The earnings and job growth, everything like
that, holds it up. That is millions and millions of dollars, not
going into the economy.”
Orman, who married her partner, Kathy
Travis, in South Africa, said DOMA impacted her personally.
“I've been gay my entire life. This
has been something I've been fighting for my entire life. I want to
be recognized. I pay a lot of money in income tax. I do everything
I can to help America with their money problems. I really feel I
should be recognized. Every single gay person in the United States
of America should be recognized for who they love, and not penalized
for it, financially speaking.” (The video is embedded on this page.
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