Gay couples are obviously not afforded the same rights as hetero couples, and we've all heard the arguments on both sides of the fence. Anti-gay groups and individuals protest loudly while the GLBT community pays out more into the system per household than their hetero counterparts. The straight community certainly doesn't turn away the money generated by keeping gay couples separated.

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.

Having children is automatically a higher expense for gay couples. The actual cost will depend on the method in which the couple may decide to go about getting pregnant. Most couples can spend anywhere from $30,000 to in excess of $75,000 just to get pregnant. The cost of additional medical care and actually raising the child is not included in that figure.

Later in life, domestic partners cannot collect any death benefits from Social Security. When it comes to pensions, it is up to the deceased partner's company to decide if they will pay anything to the surviving partner.

Children who are not biologically related to one parent will find that they can not expect their abilities to make medical decisions for their parent without appropriate paperwork. Likewise, the same can be said for minor children under the care of their non-biological parent. Second parent adoptions help to clear up these issues, but few states permit them. A non-biological parent can still be held accountable for the medical bills.

We have all heard all of the arguments that state that if we aren't satisfied then we can change, or something like that. It's quite interesting that while we are typically required to pay twice as much for life's needs and wants, our money is perfectly acceptable. When it comes to enforcing those needs and wants, acceptable is not the word that comes to mind.