In 2004, the Government Accounting Office identified 1,138 federal laws in which marital status is a factor in determining or receiving benefits, rights, and privileges.
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#0047: Joint Taxes
LGBT couples cannot file taxes jointly; as a result, taxes for a LGBT couple can be significantly higher.
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#0221: Hospital Visitation
LGBT couples have no legal right to visit a spouse in the hospital and can be barred from entering the room by medical personnel.
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#0497: estate tAXES
LGBT couples cannot pass their estate to a spouse tax-free, which creates a huge tax burden that can result in the loss of a spouse's home or business.
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#0544: Job Security
In a majority of states, employees can be fired just for being gay, which can put a huge burden on any family's financial security.
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#0608: Immigration
LGBT are denied special consideration for the immigration of a spouse, often resulting in a painful seperation when a loved one is from a foreign country.
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#0812: Property Taxes
LGBT must pay property tax when transferring property between spouses.
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#0904: Social Security
LGBT are not eligible to receive a spouse's Social Security pension or many other government benefits.
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#0945: Medical Decisions
During a medical crisis, LGBT couples have no legal authority to make critical treatment decisions for their loved one.
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#1121: Domestic Violence
LGBT cannot ask for or receive domestic violence protection orders.
