A Marriage Note From Dean

In June 2011, it became possible in Illinois for same gender couples to become legal spouses.  In July, my partner and I of twenty-four years became legal spouses. 

This gives us the right to visit each other in the hospital, and to inherit from each other without inheritance taxes.  We are very grateful to be legal spouses after all this time, but we do not mistake it for equality.  We can not file joint federal income tax returns because it is not a federal regulation. 

As soon as the governor signed the bill into law, the department of revenue drafted a regulation that same gender couples joined in civil unions could not file joint Illinois income tax returns.  Opposite gender couples joined in civil union can file joint Illinois income tax returns.  Homophobia continues, but we have made great progress.