Civil Marriage | Civil Right - Both married and single

Both married and single
by Staff Writer
photograph by Charles Krupa
The Advocate
Tuesday, March 1, 2005

Legal marriage is a reality for thousands of gay and lesbian couples living in Massachusetts – until tax time. Since the federal government doesn’t recognize their marriages, they must still check the “single” box on Internal Revenue Service filings.

The statewide gay rights group Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders is advising married gays to follow the rules, saying battles with the IRS should be left for another day. Bob Murch, 30, who married his partner, Gary Halteman, last year, said he understands. “In any civil rights struggle there are always bumps in the road,” he said. “It’s just part of what we need to change.”