Assessing Government’s Role in Marriage

Re “You’re Gay, You Pay,” April 25: There are many rights and tax benefits unfairly granted to heterosexual couples simply because they take advantage of what states offer by having a “legal” marriage. The U.S. Constitution does not address marriage. It seems unreasonable for the state to only offer marriage tax benefits to those of opposite genders. The fair solution would be to simply outlaw all state-performed marriages. There should be no tax benefit to being legally married. Banning all state marriages would fairly resolve this problem. If people wished to be married at religious institutions, they could continue to do that. Granting special rights and tax benefits to some and denying those to others is not “equal protection under the law.”

James Fuhrman

West Hollywood

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It is wishful thinking on the part of homosexual activists to presume that if same-sex marriage is approved by legislators (April 21) everyone will agree with them. State voters decided on this issue by passing Proposition 22, but this fact is being ignored by the state Assembly. Shame on them.

Wilhelmina LeBoff

Glendale