The AMA v. Focus on the Family
Last week’s resolution by the American Medical Association that supported overturning the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was widely praised. Somewhat less noticed was the AMA’s conclusion that barring same-sex couples from marrying has negative health consequences. Since employers often tie health benefits to marriage, same-sex couples (like other legally unmarried couples) are left out.
It’s not surprising that married folks live longer and have better outcomes; the deck is stacked in their favor through a host of legal, institutional, and corporate practices. It might also be that entering into a long-term, committed relationship changes behaviors in ways that lead to better health outcomes for both members of the couple; the point is disputed by social scientists, and wasn’t the basis for the AMA’s statement. I’ve written about the issue in this law review article. One of the central arguments there is that if marriage does good things for people’s behavior (on the average), there’s reason to think the same would be true for gay and lesbian couples, as well.
The AMA’s position elicited the usual response from Focus on the Family. According to spokeswoman Jenny Tyree, this health insurance problem should be fixed without “messing with marriage.” But how? Not by granting benefits to partners of gay and lesbian employees under any circumstances, apparently. Here’s what the organization had to say about Obama’s recent memorandum extending a paltry few benefits (not even including full health care, but extending some health-related benefits) to same-sex partners of federal employees:
“The president thumbed his nose at the rule of law and continues to undermine marriage as society’s most pro-child institution,” said Tom Minnery, senior vice president of government and public policy for Focus on the Family Action.
“It’s a settled principle of moral tradition and social science that says children do best with both a mom and a dad who are married to each other.
It never changes. According to Focus on the Family: “Marriage by same-sex couples undermines society. Solve problems in some other way.”
But then it turns out that any other way you might come up with is objectionable, too. Except the ex-gay movement, of course, which Focus on the Family supports and defends (in a “kinder, gentler” guise these days). The AMA has now taken a position next to the AARP now on the wing-nut hit list (which, I regret to say, has been expanded by the actions of John McCain, if this report is accurate). Will marriage equality opponents stop seeing doctors after they “tear up” their AARP cards?
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