Since everyone is so worked up regarding why gay couples want the same rights as heterosexual couples, it might be prudent to document how gay households are charged more but provided less. This really isn’t about arguing whether or not you agree with same sex marriages or you are part of an anti-gay group. It’s really about outlining the reasons for desiring protection.

One of the most obvious additional costs includes the payment of taxes. Without the same marriage benefits, child benefits, and filing benefits of the heterosexual community, the gay couple will pay out a higher amount of the household money as each individual files separately without benefits. Even something as simple as true deductions have to come under scrutiny to ensure that the wrong deduction doesn’t end up on the wrong tax return. The average additional taxation for couples of the GLBT community is generally three quarters to even twice the amount paid for a hetero household with the same income requirements.

Of course, while there are many companies that are stepping up and offering health insurance to employees with same sex partners, the health insurance crisis within the gay community can be significantly higher than that of the straight community. The considered income of the additional partner’s health insurance is taxed, whereas heterosexual health insurance coverage is not. A single family’s income can be significantly impacted by the ill health of one partner, yet reimbursement and deductions are often not permitted when the healthy partner becomes financially involved. It creates quite a tax mess.

Legal fees are also another avenue when gay couples have to find more funds to live within “normal” society. For monetary and parental protection many have to outline their rights in legal documents especially when children are involved. The simple act of being together for some gay couples means that they must pay hundreds to thousands of dollars in legal fees just in case something happens later in life.

Naturally, the expenses associated with having children are significantly higher than it is for most hetero couples. Sure, the argument about how we shouldn’t have children could interjected, but this isn’t about right or wrong. This is just a factual account of modern same sex couple-hood. Just getting pregnant can run higher than $75,000 for the average couple who doesn’t conceive within the first six months.

Even after gay couples have spent the better part of their lives together, have filed legal paperwork, and have gone through every available avenue, death benefits from the government and often death benefits from the employer of the deceased partner are denied. This can create additional financial hardships on families.

Non biological parents of children can easily be held accountable for a medical bill while simultaneously be withheld from making medical decisions for the child. If there is no second parent adoption available in the state of residence, then the non-biological parent can find that while they may pay directly or indirectly for care, they aren’t entitled to simple decisions. The reverse is true with adult children trying to make medical decisions for their non biological parent.

Yes, there are many ways that we can be told to live differently if we don’t like it. We all know the answer to that. However, when it comes down to everything from opposition to same sex benefits to opposition to same sex marriages, it’s not a bad idea to put it in black and white how gay couples pay more for living than het couples do.

Thoughts about differences for gay couples brought to you by gay travel author Howie Holben. He and Spirit Journeys offer gay weekend getaways for gay couples.