Will California's
gay couples soon be filing income taxes together?

A bill allowing California's registered domestic partners to jointly file income taxes is advancing in the state's senate, clearing its first committee on Wednesday.

The State Income Tax Equity Act passed the senate committee on revenue and taxation by a 4-2 margin. It now advances to the senate's appropriation committee.

"This measure is about basic fairness for domestic partners," said Seth Kilbourn, political director for Equality California, a statewide LGBT advocacy group sponsoring the bill. "Domestic partners and their families deserve the conveniences and financial benefits that can come with filing a joint return."

The bill was authored by lesbian state senator Carole Migden of San Francisco. "The bill eliminates yet another legalized form of financial discrimination from California tax law and supports gay and lesbian families by letting them claim the same expenses on their tax forms as married couples do today," she said. (The Advocate)