WASHINGTON, April 14, 2009 — Charles Merrill, a 75-year-old artist, and cousin to the founder of Merrill Lynch with ancestral roots to the original Massachusetts Bay Colony (Nathaniel Merrill, 1610) and Revolutionary War heroes, applauds marriage equality rallies to be held at post offices around the country on April 15th protesting taxation without representation by same-sex married couples.
In a press release from Join The Impact MA, “On April 15th, thousands of same-sex couples across the United States will be reminded of their second-class status when they file their federal tax return form. Despite living in committed relationships, same-sex couples – even those married in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and California – must file as individuals, forgoing over 1,100 federal rights granted to heterosexual married couples.
“Rallies are being planned at local post offices across the country and these events have been sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBT rights organization in the United States, Join The Impact, Join The Impact MA, and Marriage Equality USA.”
Merrill, of Palm Springs, CA, who is in Washington, D.C. to lobby for marriage equality, said he would gladly pay his taxes, but not before he is afforded the same rights as straight taxpayers. “I want to pay taxes but I want to pay them as everyone else, not as a second-class citizen,” said Merrill. “I am standing up for the 18,000 couples who got married in California and are denied all those rights. My partner and I are one of those couples.”
Merrill continued, “At a time when the government is hurting for money, granting marriage equality for all will have an impact to improve the economy. A study was made by the Congressional Budget Office in 2004 finding that same-sex marriage in all states would improve the Federal economy. President Obama and Congress need to get started on promises made to repeal DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) for the good of the economy.”
In Boston, there will be a Boston Tea Party Re-enactment near the original site.
Contact:
Paul Sousa
Founder, Equal Rep
Co-Chair, Join The Impact MA
Tel: 617.840.5145
http://www.taxday2009.com
Washington, D.C. Contact:
Charles Merrill
760.219.1121
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