Should gay couples be paid more than straight couples?
Cambridge, Mass., reimburses married gay employees for a tax their heterosexual counterparts don't have to pay — raising questions about political correctness
The city of Cambridge, Mass., has become the first in the country to pay workers a stipend to cover a federal tax on health benefits for their same-sex spouses. Twenty-two married gay school and city employees opted to add their spouses to their employer-provided health insurance, but the federal government considers the value of that health coverage taxable income because the couples are in homosexual relationships. The 22 individuals covered by Cambridge's new policy pay an extra $1,500 to $3,000 in taxes annually. Picking up the tab will cost the city $33,000 a year. "This is about equality," says Marjorie Decker, a Cambridge city councilor. Is it fair to put something extra in the paychecks of gay couples?
No, it is about political correctness: If this were about fairness, says Joe Carter at First Things, Cambridge would also be paying the extra tax for unmarried workers who pay taxes for their dependents covered under the city's health insurance benefits. It doesn't, of course, because "this isn’t really about equal pay for equal work. This was merely a publicity stunt by the city of Cambridge to signal what side of the politically-correct divide they are on."
"Extra pay for being gay married"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It is the taxation that is unfair: It's ridiculous to suggest that this is some kind of gay-rights favoritism, says Scott Rosenfeld at Passport. "It's about fairness." The Defense of Marriage Act discriminates against gay married couples by forcing a tax on them that their heterosexual counterparts don't have to pay. This only evens the scales by canceling out the surtax imposed to penalize them for being gay.
"Cambridge pays gay employees more to offset unfair health care tax"
This is a sign anti-gay discrimination is on the way out: Cambridge is doing what it has to do to end discrimination against same-sex couples within its city limits, says Bridgette P. LaVictoire in Lez Get Real. But the courts, too, are starting to "put homosexuality into a legally protected class with regards to civil rights." That, ultimately, means that the Defense of Marriage Act is doomed, so special policies like Cambridge's "will no longer be necessary in the near future."
"Cambridge, Mass., to reimburse married gay workers for wages lost due to unfair taxation"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
7 magnificent hotels to visit before the summer crowds descend
The Week Recommends Have beach time in the Dominican Republic or a spa day in Saint-Tropez
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Sheep spray
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
The bird flu fight is faltering
Talking Points Are pandemic lessons going unheeded?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published