Even after all of the exposure leading up to the DOMA case at the Supreme Court, I don't think many people realized that there was essentially a gay tax in America. At least on those gays, like me, lucky enough to both be married and have an employer who offered health insurance to my husband. The cost to my employer for that insurance was considered income to me, so I had to pay taxes that no straight married couple did on that same benefit.
Once the Supreme Court struck down part of DOMA in June it was only a matter of time before the tax penalty for having my husband on my health insurance was elminated. Today I got my first paycheck without that penalty and it's just shy of $100! Times 26 pay periods that is an extra $2600 that I will not have to pay the US Government for the pleasure of being gay in America.
Don't get me wrong, I was thrilled to have that insurance and if the penalty was to pay some extra taxes, that was a price I was willing to pay. I also realize that this $2600 is the equivalent of about 17% of the yearly income for someone who earns minimum wage, so I count myself very, very lucky. I almost didn't post since this seems to fall somewhat close to that awful internet meme "first world problems", but it is an inequality that helps no one if it were to have been upheld. I will take my victories where I can.