Ann Rostow

About the author: Ann Rostow is a staff writer for the San Francisco Bay Times, a newspaper for gays and lesbians.

Claims that same-sex marriages would cost the government money are false. Same-sex marriages would actually save taxpayer dollars because they would lessen the state's responsibility for the health and welfare of many indigent gay and lesbian citizens. Marriage would not result in economic gains for gays and lesbians. However, gays are fighting for the right of same-sex marriage not because it would lead to profit, but because it would provide them with economic security.

Numbers are like Bible passages. If you quote them out of context, you can prove any point you like.

California Representative Pete Knight (R-Palmdale), the sponsor of two anti-marriage bills, issued a statement in 1995 summarizing the costs to the...