Popular Culture Review Vol. 16, No. 1, Spring 2005 | Page 49

Out of Focus on the Family: A Response to
Arguments about Same-Sex Marriage
Before impugning an opponent’s motives, even when they
may be rightly impugned, answer his arguments.
—Sidney Hook
Gay marriage. The prospect has sent politicians and religious leaders
into a frenzy to “protect marriage” from American citizens who want to get
married. Why? What are their arguments for this seemingly paradoxical
behavior? Why, when America insists that an enlightened society must be
inclusive and that a rational culture embraces differences as a source of
strength—and after decades of sometimes feverish efforts to enfranchise
virtually every minority group in America—why are many politicians and so-
called “religious leaders” determined to keep gay men and women
disenfranchised, especially when it comes to the legal right to a civil marriage?
Politicians echo religious leaders. One politically active religious leader
has the ear of President George W. Bush, who consults with him on a regular
basis. James Dobson is founder, head, and chief spokesman of Focus on the
Family (FOF), an evangelical, ultra-conservative lobbying group and
international media empire. Dr. Dobson’s words are heard by more than 200
million people on more than 3000 radio stations and 80 television stations in 116
countries from Japan to Botswana and in 15 languages from Spanish to Zulu. In
a November 12, 2004, article on Slate.msn.com, Michael Crowley, senior editor
at the New Republic, dubbed James Dobson “the religious right’s new
kingmaker” and “America’s most influential evangelical leader, with a
following reportedly greater than that of either Falwell or Robertson at [their]
peak.”
In his June 2004 book, Marriage Under Fire: Why We Must Win This
Battle, from Multnomah Publishers (whose express purpose is, according to
their web site, “to spread His Word in the world. That’s why we’re here—to
change lives for the glory of His kingdom”), Dr. Dobson offers “Eleven
Arguments Against Same-Sex Marriage.” With all his power and influence, it
behooves every American to examine the arguments of a man who is a force to
be reckoned with in America’s faith-based political scene. 1
1. The legalization of homosexual marriage will quickly destroy the
traditional family.
“Destroy”? How could allowing committed men and women (no matter
their sexual orientation) to marry possibly destroy traditional families? Will
existing traditional families suddenly disintegrate? Will the heterosexual