[Harry Rex Vonner]

But where it really counts, in federal perks for marriage, they will receive those no matter where they live. On their federal tax return, if they were married in NY, and living in KY, they are still married, as far as the feds are concerned. They will still receive the federal tax breaks for a married couple.

To say that the federal "perks" are enough to win the day is to have a rather shallow outlook. While they may get a little bigger income tax refund, the much more relevant issue will be their standard of life while living in Kentucky. Since Kentucky does not recognize them as a "legal couple" and since the majority of their neighbors, unless they live in a homosexual part of town, will not accept them, they will not have numerous rights of association and acceptance afforded to people in normal situations.

The federal tax refund is immaterial. The other issues are major. The ostracism by citizens in traditional marriage states will continue. That is known as the concept of Freedom of Association. That means that no federal law, or any other law, can force citizens to accept other citizens.