Popular Culture Review Vol. 16, No. 1, Spring 2005 | Page 66

62
Popular Culture Review
So gay marriage could help lower millions of people’s blood pressure,
reduce their risk for other illnesses and thereby save insurance companies
money, since that corporate interest seems to be one of Dr. Dobson’s main
concerns. As for the rest of his unsupported prognostications, some 45,000,000
Americans don’t have any health insurance. If gay marriages could precipitate
making health care a right for all citizens of this country, shouldn’t they be
encouraged?
Finally, the version of Argument Six that first appeared on Focus on
the Family’s web site differed slightly from the version that ultimately appeared
in Marriage Under Fire. In the web site version, the line: “It is estimated by
some analysts that drastic increases in premiums can be anticipated and that it
may not be profitable for companies to stay in business,” read: “It is estimated
by some analysts that an initial threefold increase in premiums can be
anticipated; even with that, it may not be profitable for companies to stay in
business.” In neither case are “some analysts” identified, nor is any citation or
documentation provided. One has to wonder where Dr. Dobson got the
“threefold increase in premiums” figure, and why it was toned down to “drastic
increases” for the printed version. Once again, Dr. Dobson’s attempt to inspire
fear is without basis. In a report released May 6, 2004, the Human Rights
Campaign documented that:
Private employers are instituting domestic-partner health
insurance benefits for gay employees at the rate of three
companies a day. . . . The analysis by the Human Rights
Campaign Foundation found that more than 1,000 private
employers and colleges and universities added domestic-
partner benefits in 2003, 18% more than the year before. Some
40% of the Fortune 500 companies now offer domestic-
partner benefits, including nearly 70% of the 50 top
businesses. . . . The report says providing such benefits
enhances
morale,
productivity,
recruiting,
and
competitiveness. One of the study’s authors, Kim Mills, said
the 18% rise is an indication that employers are deciding that
such benefits are good for business, (www.hrc.org)
“The Dollars and Cents of Gay Marriage,” an article by David R
Francis, appeared in The Christian Science Monitor, August 30, 2004. It
documented that, once again, Dr. Dobson has no legitimate argument, only fear
tactics:
“Did you ever wonder why more and more companies, state
and municipal governments, and colleges and universities are
granting benefits to gay workers’ partners and children? One