... but you are, Blanche
I was talking to a friend who is a lawyer and we were commiserating about the sad state of women's and minorities rights in the United States. I told him we have talked about this before, way before draconian anti-abortion laws would start popping all over the country. And before all the voter restrictions would pop up all over the country. And before all the anti-Trans laws would start popping all over the country.
The next victim? Obergefell.
Oh, yes, for the conservative mind, the courts invented gay marriage and they have been working to dismantle it from the day it became law. Why do you think that Southern states now allow child marriage? It was a mistake -well, not really, it's fucking Tennessee!- because what they wanted to do was to enshrine marriage between a cisgender man and a cisgender woman.
I'm not a lawyer. I just play one in a blog. But even I can see the thread: Lawrence v. Texas, 2003; Obergefell v. Hodges, 2015; Loving v. Virginia and even Griswold v. Connecticut, the 1965 ruling that allowed married couples to use birth control are all tied to Roe v Wade in that they are all related to an individual right to privacy. And toppling one, would probably weaken all the others.
We don’t know exactly when or how Obergefell will be challenged, but the assault is starting, and it’s obvious. The Supreme Court has already accepted a case about anti-discrimination laws for next term which could rip a giant hole in protections for gay couples. It’s the case of a web site designer who wants to be able to post on her site that she refuses same-sex couples as clients, in defiance of a Colorado law. She claims the law violates her First Amendment right to free speech. In even accepting the case, the court has signaled that the chipping away has already begun.
So don't think that because you don't have a uterus or because you are a white cisgender man your rights are safe. For the Repug, conservative mind, you are just another faggot and you need to be put in your place, along with the little women and the colored. You just wait.
XOXO
The simple fact is it would be hard to overturn Obergefell without a butt-load of lawsuits.
ReplyDeleteWould my marriage suddenly be invalid? And if not, if Carlos and I, and millions of other married same-sex couples will be "allowed" to remain married, then it makes it even harder to deny marriage to other same-sex couples.
And if SCOTUS suddenly decides to invalidate my marriage, then expect a fight, because there are enough of us, and our allies, to take this on.
It's simple equality for all Americans, no matter how you try to spin your feelings onto it.
Don't fucking come for my marriage, or anyone else in my community.
The thing is that chipping away at the rights of queer couples is their goal.
DeleteThe idea of equality for the conservative mind is a cake: if somebody is getting something, they're getting less of whatever the others got.
Irrational, just like their faith.
XOXO
The Cracker Jack Crazies will make the attempt because they now realize 2000 + years after a supposed crucifixion time is on their side. They have shifted into desperation mode in their attempt to turn back the clock to a time when they believed their power was absolute. As Bob said, they will fail simply because they are dying off faster than they can make new believers.
ReplyDeleteYep.
DeleteTime is on their side. It started ticking when Cheeto was in office and literally poisoned the well. And they ARE desperate. All the book bans and Transphobia stink of desperation. But that also makes them rabid.
XOXO
We are in a period of backlash against every human/civil right advance made in the last 60 years. We must fight the good fight all over again.
ReplyDeleteOh, absolutely.
DeleteMy one friend tells me it's a pendulum. And the conservatives do NOT like it.
That's why I'm ALWAYS ready for a battle.
XOXO
Except in fortunate countries like Australia and the Scandinavian countries, every minority suffers. As for Italy, it already seems a miracle to me that civil unions have been introduced for people of the same sex in 2016.
ReplyDeleteThat is true.
DeleteVery few countries have equality and no pushback for it.
I could not believe it when Italy got civil unions, to tell you the truth. So conservative...
XOXO
In reality, most Italians are far ahead of politicians. For the Italian people, Civil Unions could have been introduced at least 10 years earlier.
DeleteThey have successfully chipped away voting rights. WHEN Roe is overturned, Griswold will be an easy target.
ReplyDeleteThe right-wing caucus has already stated their position on Loving v VA - they want it overturned. That might be the only case that Thomas would vote with the other side - for obvious reasons.
"The courts created same-sex marriage." --- My brother claimed that. Boy, was he pissed. I had to school him. Did I ever! The thing the attorneys arguing FOR gay marriage screwed up when they argued that case: The case against is based on religious beliefs. The extreme right is trying to take that right away based in religion. I'm pretty sure the Constitution prohibits that. Not that that fact will stop the current SCOTUS from overturning Obergefell.
The upcoming elections will be the most important of our lifetime. With the way the Repugs have been able to enact so many anti-voting laws, whatever the Dems win will be challenged in the courts.
To quote another famous Bette Davis line: "Buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride."
XOXO
Scary times we live in. I’m expecting witch trials to make a comeback. I agree the 2022 and 2024 elections are the most important of our generation. We must turn out in even bigger numbers than last cycle. Get your butt to the polls.
DeleteXOXO 👨🏼❤️💋👨🏾
Oh, they want EVERYTHING overturned.
DeleteAnd their weapon is SCOTUS. That's why they stocked it when Cheeto was president. It's a long game. And your brother is not the only one. Many people actually believe that. They'll stick to the old Abrahamic version of the facts for as long as they can.
The upcoming elections are PIVOTAL.
XOXO
Yes. They will be coming for us soon.
ReplyDeleteAnd then... the trains. The pink triangles...
And the trains.
I don't think I'm long for this planet.
At the first sign of trouble? I'll just take a dirt nap.
Kizzes.
Ugh. And then we will go back to being let go from employment for being gay, for being refused rental property for being gay, for not being able to shop comfortably in certain stores...oh shit.
ReplyDeleteThat's the conservative dream:
DeleteTo erase us, to make sure that people live in fear. Not today, Satan!
XOXO