Melissa Etheridge On Prop 8: You Can Forget My Taxes, California

The Daily Beast:

Singer Melissa Etheridge rails against the passage of the gay-marriage ban in California--and she won't be paying the state a dime.

Okay. So Prop 8 passed. Alright, I get it. 51% of you think that I am a second class citizen. Alright then. So my wife, uh I mean, roommate? Girlfriend? Special lady friend? You are gonna have to help me here because I am not sure what to call her now. Anyways, she and I are not allowed the same right under the state constitution as any other citizen. Okay, so I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen. I mean that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights, sounds sort of like that taxation without representation thing from the history books.

Okay, cool I don't mean to get too personal here but there is a lot I can do with the extra half a million dollars that I will be keeping instead of handing it over to the state of California. Oh, and I am sure Ellen will be a little excited to keep her bazillion bucks that she pays in taxes too. Wow, come to think of it, there are quite a few of us fortunate gay folks that will be having some extra cash this year. What recession? We're gay! I am sure there will be a little box on the tax forms now single, married, divorced, gay, check here if you are gay, yeah, that's not so bad. Of course all of the waiters and hairdressers and UPS workers and gym teachers and such, they won't have to pay their taxes either.

Read the whole story: The Daily Beast

Comments

[DontBeFoolish]

Incredible!

[DontBeFoolish]

For those of you who wish to rebel by not paying your taxes or something stupd like that. There is a Jail Cell for all of you. If you think they won't find a cell for you? Go ask Wesley. Here's a word of advice for all of you. DON'T MESS WITH THE MONEY!

[RationalDubSteppa]

Oh Yeah!!?? Well DON"T MESS WITH CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS!!!

[NRDavis]

It's called civil disobedience, Einstein. In the tradition of Dr. King, Gandhi, Rosa Parks, and the founders of the USA. All broke immoral laws to serve a moral purpose. NO TAXATION WITHOUT EQUALITY!

[Halsey]

Don't....yup...the IRS will get angry...but..Wesley...was denied any "right"..he just didn't pay his taxes...no sympathy for him whatsoever...

But, yes, as a straight woman, I DON"T GET IT!...I don't care if gays get married...I mean...WFT difference does it make to anyone? I am curious about the wedding in San Francisco...that the "pro 8" ads showed..that a teacher took 2nd graders to his(her?) gay wedding...is that true? if so..very very stupid..just what religious right needed... I don't remember anything about marriage being taught in school...(okay..Dick and Jane's parents were of the opposite sex)...

I hope the demonstrations (peaceful)..continue...and a NEW petition becomes circulated...one that, perhaps educates the stupid....and, sadly, from what I hear...it was older Blacks who "probably" pushed it over the edge claiming the Bible...dare I remind them of the verse that says "slaves...obey your masters"...WE CANNOT take the Bible as literal...it friggin allegory for God's sakes...

Fight on Melissa..many of us are behind you!..(p.s. non sequitar...I admire you...I am battlling breast cancer..and it's a bastard!

Thank you for all you do!

[toocoldout]

Good for her. Why would anyone try to prevent gays from getting married? How does it affect their life? Just live & let live.

[RationalDubSteppa]

Well you know god doesn't like it done in the naughty place. It keeps him up at night!

[rdiaz921]

it's only naughty if it feels good.

[lizr]

keeps him up at night having too much fun?

[LJQ]

I am sick about Prob 8. I live in Colorado Springs where something like this passing would not surprise me. We have the nuts here, I know that. I was shocked and dismayed to see that California is just as prejudice and backwards. What is it going to take to open people's minds? I am saying this as a straight person who is sick and tired of the treatment of people in this country. My excitement of Obama winning was quickly dashed by the news of Prob 8. How can groups of people who have been oppressed (minorities and women) stand for this? They did though because so many of them voted for this proposition. I want to send a heartfelt sorry to every gay person in California and in this country who feel disheartened and distraught. There are many people who support your absolute human right to marry and love anyone you want.

[berrycooda]

Call it what it is.....

Don't pay taxes.....(Do you pay less if you can file as married instead of single taxpayers) ???

Move somewhere where you can get married...( I don't really know where that would be)

Quit complaining.....you have been together with your mate and it doesn't take a piece of paper to
keep you together.

Love should be enough....you have all the civil rights that straight people do, don't you ???
America has enough problems without this being such a big issue.
Say your vows....ask God to Bless you ...and quit trying to change the definition of male and female.

[LJQ]

Your kidding...right?

[DontBeFoolish]

A little brash, but well siad.

[Sahaquiel]

This isn't about a "piece of paper keeping them together" and you know it. It's the fundamental ideal that we are all equal under the eyes of the state. This isn't about changing the "definition of male and female" or marriage, or anything else. It's about EQUALITY.

I don't know what shapes your argument. Maybe your church says "GAY IS BAD", or perhaps you think it's a poor lifestyle choice--I honestly couldn't care less. Regardless, the argument for PROP 8 is a painful reiteration of that whole "separate but equal" propaganda we're all oh-so-fond of.

America has a lot of problems that need fixing, but if you think that this attempt to legalize discrimination isn't one of them, then I'd say you're pretty delusional.

-Sahaquiel, a straight man for gay rights.

[NRDavis]

You are an idiot. No, we don't have all the civil rights you have if we don't have marriage. Hello? Your Supreme Court ruled decades ago that separate but equal is NOT equal. Gays are second-class citizens. So NO, we don't have all the civil rights you have. And until we do, bring on the endless protests and civil disobedience. Rosa Parks and MLK went to jail so that we could have a President Obama one day. Standing up against immoral laws is the only recourse we are left. That means either move to a decent state, such as Massachusetts or Connecticut, or withhold taxes from a discriminatory government. It's the moral thing to do and the American way.

[DundeeNatalSA]

i don't think any gay person should pay taxes over this. what would they do??? arrest every gay person??? no justice, no peace.

[DontBeFoolish]

YEP!

[CaliTLC]

Careful with the declarations about not paying your taxes. Recall Wesley Snipes recent conviction. Is he in prison yet?

[LollieDotCom]

Theres a big difference between tax evasion and a real San Francisco Tea Party. There is a very real legal path to justice here. It is insane for people in America to pay equal taxes for less than equal rights.

And to every FAKE Christian that voted to ban gay marriage in California... just remember this, Jesus Christ never said one single word against anything or anyone gay or lesbian. He talked a lot. He talked for years. But not one word against anything or anyone gay or lesbian. So I don't know what you think you are, but you're certainly not followers of Christ.

I don't know how you start a class action lawsuit against the state of California.... but without a doubt, someone does. And it's long overdue.

[DontBeFoolish]

Hey, I wish you the best. However, I think you need to read the bible again. He spoke against the act, not the person. We are all his children.

[kayfacefl]

You go girl! Damn right you shouldn't have to pay taxes if the government is not going to grant you equal rights. Unconstitutional! I am a white straight female who is appalled by what happened in California.
Woman fought for the right to vote. Blacks fought for their right of segregation and their equal rights as citizens. It is time for the gays to fight back. I am willing to stand by all my gay friends. This is the next fight of this generation and it needs to start now. After this historic election and while we still have the countries’ attentiont. Join with the gay community and get active to fight their rights to equality.

[starboymikey]

Good for you, Melissa. Civil disobedience is powerful, and if you are willing to pay the price and go to prison if necessary, you'll become like MLK, and be one of the most powerful people in the country. Stay strong, girl. A lot of people are with you.

[PetraKropotkin]

SCREW YOU CALifornia HOmophobes!!!!

http://organizeagainsthate.blogspot.com/

[wordvarc]

'nice of her to endorse voters and our democratic process despite the outcome of this proposition.

Maybe the whining and strident "in your face" politicking hid all merits of voting "no on 8."

[bored2tears]

I'm impressed that she makes enough to pay half a million dollars in state taxes each year.

And all from the one hit, "I'm the Only One Who Wants to Come Over to Your Window."

If Melissa ever makes a second song, I hope she doubles her income.

[BGDiNLV]

The thing Mrs Etheridge has to understand is that,it's all not going to happen EASILY!! You are going to hve to fight for it!!! Trust me as a AA,I truly understand,200 years in the making for us.So just realize that you can not give up.The battle will be hard and long,and realize that hopefully you will see the progress in your lifetime. Keep the faith.

[Womanvoter4Obama]

Melissa,

I totally get it. I'm a straight black woman and your marriage, heck anyone's marriage does not bother me. I would have never voted against it. I'm sorry that this happened to everyone. It sucks.

[MajorKong]

And here I was going to divorce my wife of many years, completely change my sexual orientation, move to California and find some guy to marry - just because it was legal. Bummer.

[super]

:-)

[thebluecrayon]

Too funny!