Supreme Court LGBT ruling: Why it is such a big deal

[kenny]

Supreme Court LGBT ruling: Why it is such a big deal

The implications of this surprise decision will be felt far and wide, says BBC's Anthony Zurcher.

www.bbc.com

The US Supreme Court over the past several decades has slowly but steadily expanded its protections of gay rights.

From striking down a Texas law that criminalised "sodomy" to legalising gay marriage across the nation, the direction of US jurisprudence seemed clear.

That was before Justice Anthony Kennedy, the author of several of those landmark decisions, retired and Donald Trump, with two appointments, gave the court a decidedly more conservative bent.

There was some concern among LGBT advocates that the newly composed court would use this year's two high-profile gay and transgender rights cases to take the nation in a different direction.

Those concerns proved unfounded. Neil Gorsuch, one of the Trump appointees, wrote the sweeping decision that extended federal employment protections to gay and transgender workers.

He is proving to be more of an ideological wildcard than many on the left expected.

• Top US court backs protection for LGBT workers

Chief Justice John Roberts, another Republican-appointed justice who has at times defied predictions, joined to give the ruling a comfortable 6-to-3 margin.

Both are sure to face an uproar from conservatives quarters.

It's difficult to overstate the significance of the decision. While the court is establishing a long history of decisions expanding gay rights, this is the first time it spoke directly about the legal protections for transgender individuals.

That the ruling comes out just days after the Trump administration announced it was removing transgender health-insurance protections only puts the issue in stark relief.

Transgender rights is becoming a political battlefield, and a majority of the Supreme Court just announced which side it's on.

 

[Demon]

Gorsuch surprised me. Pleasantly.

 

[MissGotRocks]

It is always good when the rulings are based on the issue at hand rather than political leanings. Much has been made of the politics of the appointments; it is refreshing to see that not be an influence in this instance.

 

[asscherisme]

I am THRILLED about this ruling. So happy. But more needs to be done.

However, the blow to transgender healthcare also came this week and that is just awful.

Trump administration rolls back Obama-era transgender health care protections

The Trump administration announced Friday it is eliminating an Obama-era regulation prohibiting discrimination in health care against patients who are transgender.

www.cnn.com

So, I will shout it anytime I can, get out and vote if you believe in equality for everyone!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Its 2020
Plenty of those of us on the right have gay and transgender friends who's rights we would stand up for

 

[OoohShiny]

It is always good when the rulings are based on the issue at hand rather than political leanings. Much has been made of the politics of the appointments; it is refreshing to see that not be an influence in this instance.

I seriously do not understand how or why any political 'bent' should be behind decisions made at the highest legal levels.

The point of 'the rule of law' is that it should be impartial and apolitical and based upon the facts of the matters in hand - it is not (should not be...) there to enact the arbitrary will of the leader as per said leader's whim.

 

[missy]

I am thrilled by this ruling too. And yes much more needs to be done.






❤❤❤

 

[chrono]

I think it is ridiculous that we even have to discuss whether LGBT should have equal rights and protection. For me, it's a no brainer. They are human beings and should automatically be included!

 

[missy]

I think it is ridiculous that we even have to discuss whether LGBT should have equal rights and protection. For me, it's a no brainer. They are human beings and should automatically be included!

It’s a fact. We still have to fight for equality for so many. A sad but true fact. Wishing it wasn’t so doesn’t make it not so. We can never stop fighting.

 

[kenny]

I seriously do not understand how or why any political 'bent' should be behind decisions made at the highest legal levels. ...

Why?
Let's call a spade a spade ... in a word, religion.

Zillion of theists say that God says that gay is bad, wrong, and more sinful than being straight.
For seemingly ever, this has been indoctrinated into zillions of children around the world ... of course before their brains are developed enough to be able to think critically.
Those indoctrinated kids grow up, and gradually, there we are. Bigotry disguised as morality.

When enough voters were indoctrinated this way as small children, guess what ... politicians/lawmakers like who their jobs and like to be elected and reelected pander to those voters... so ... here we are ... that's " how or why any political 'bent' should be behind decisions made at the highest legal levels".

Now, at least here in America since the 1960s, fewer and fewer kids have been raised under this hateful indoctrination, the whole point of which is to make people feel superior.
When you can convince folks that group X is inferior, your group gets to be superior.
Equality is the enemy of superior.

 

[asscherisme]

I think it is ridiculous that we even have to discuss whether LGBT should have equal rights and protection. For me, it's a no brainer. They are human beings and should automatically be included!

Well said.

 

[asscherisme]

Why?
Let's call a spade a spade ... in a word, religion.

Zillion of theists say that God says that gay is bad, wrong, and more sinful than being straight.
For seemingly ever, this has been indoctrinated into zillions of children around the world ... of course before their brains are developed enough to be able to think critically.
Those indoctrinated kids grow up, and gradually, there we are. Bigotry disguised as morality.

When enough voters were indoctrinated this way as small children, guess what ... politicians/lawmakers like who their jobs and like to be elected and reelected pander to those voters... so ... here we are ... that's " how or why any political 'bent' should be behind decisions made at the highest legal levels".

Now, at least here in America since the 1960s, fewer and fewer kids have been raised under this hateful indoctrination, the whole point of which is to make people feel superior.
When you can convince folks that group X is inferior, your group gets to be superior.
Equality is the enemy of superior.

I totally agree.

As you are aware, kids are still being raised under bigotry in their own families. Not just being taught bigotry against others, but being the victim and subject of their families being bigoted towards them.

My son's boyfriend was rejected by his own family for being gay. It is heartbreaking to see this awesome intelligent young man being rejected by his family.

My son has a friend that tried to commit suicide because his family does not accept him as transgender and in high school made him dress as a girl. Ultimately they pulled him out of school and made him cut off contact with his friends and delete any social medial presence so we wonder what happened to him. Its been a few years and I still worry about him.

I so happy with the Supreme Court ruling yesterday. Maybe as society slowly increases laws protecting equality, social change will come. I hope that these types of law changes will chip away at justification for bigotry. But I am not naive either.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I seriously do not understand how or why any political 'bent' should be behind decisions made at the highest legal levels.

The point of 'the rule of law' is that it should be impartial and apolitical and based upon the facts of the matters in hand - it is not (should not be...) there to enact the arbitrary will of the leader as per said leader's whim.

I also think that there is an undercurrent of politics in who advanced you for appointment. Democrats and Republicans tend to look for like minded people of their party to nominate for these positions. I believe that is one of the reasons that Ruth Bader Ginsburg stays with the court - particularly during this administration - as she fears what might be nominated to replace her.

I have the highest amount of respect for judges that will not bend to a particular political flavor but rather look at the issue from an apolitical point of view. Judges are human too but I think they are expected to rise above the fray and rule based on law and not the desired leaning of the one that nominated them.

 

[monarch64]

Its 2020
Plenty of those of us on the right have gay and transgender friends who's rights we would stand up for

Yes, and plenty of us have gay and trans friends who are CONSERVATIVES and gasp! vote Republican here in the States!

 

[kenny]

Yes, and plenty of us have gay and trans friends who are CONSERVATIVES and gasp! vote Republican here in the States!

Homos vary too.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Yes, and plenty of us have gay and trans friends who are CONSERVATIVES and gasp! vote Republican here in the States!

Well my old buddy George W is pals with Ellen

 

[ame]

Gorsuch surprised me. Pleasantly.

Same. I was SHOCKED it was 6-3 and then I saw his name and almost cried. Super great surprise. He might still have been appointed by Trump, but Merrick Garland should be in that seat.

 

[Demon]

Same. I was SHOCKED it was 6-3 and then I saw his name and almost cried. Super great surprise. He might still have been appointed by Trump, but Merrick Garland should be in that seat.

And, they just said Trump couldn't end DACA.

Supreme Court blocks Trump from ending DACA in big win for Dreamers

Chief Justice John Roberts was the swing vote in the 5-4 decision, dealing a big legal defeat to President Trump on the issue of immigration.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[partgypsy]

Wow checks and balances. Maybe there is hope for this democracy yet.

 

[Demon]

Wow checks and balances. Maybe there is hope for this democracy yet.

Lol. I'm not willing to go that far yet. There are still some big cases out there.