Disabled Gay Vet Claims Tax Break Unfairly Denied

NEWARK, N.J. - A gay, disabled veteran in Montclair claims he is being denied a property tax break because he owns his home with his longtime partner, not a wife.

New Jersey law lets disabled veterans seek exemptions from local property taxes.

A judge in tax court questioned attorneys Thursday, but it was not clear when a decision in the case would be made.

Louis Hennefeld, who is considered 100 percent disabled, jointly owns a house with Blair O'Dell. After living together since 1975, they established a Vermont civil union in 2000 and married in 2003 in Canada. That nation recognizes gay marriage. (source)