If you are in a same-sex relationship and you, your partner or your children are unfairly taxed on employer-sponsored health insurance by the federal government, AND you are provided a reimbursement for this tax by your employer, we would like to include you in our press efforts. As you may know, the reimbursement provided by your employer is taxed by the state of California because it is seen as income. Assemblymember Phil Ting strongly feels that California should not profit from the Federal government’s discrimination against gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals. The Assemblymember is carrying a piece of legislation called the “Same-Sex Tax Fairness Act”, which is sponsored by Equality California (EQCA). This legislation will prohibit California from taxing the reimbursements provided by the employer to the employee. Even with the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling to strike down DOMA and Proposition 8, same-sex couples will still be taxed for the 2013 fiscal year. Additionally, this is a time of large transition where California’s businesses are waiting for guidance from the Franchise Tax Board to change their human resource policies and the Franchise Tax Board is waiting for guidance from the Internal Revenue Service – while we wait for fairness from the Federal Government, we should not delay justice at the state level. As AB 362 heads to the Governor, we need your help. We need to demonstrate clearly  that same-sex couples and same-sex headed households are being discriminated against by California’s tax laws. Because justice delayed is justice denied! To share your story, please contact Evan Minton at [email protected] or call 916-319-2659.