The Law Giveth and Taketh Away
| The Law Giveth and Taketh Away |
| Monday, 04 July 2011 08:14 |
 In America, it seems we are in a perpetual election cycle. Partisan politics are continually stoked and every vital issue facing this country is being used -- especially by the right -- as a means of riling up their base. Nothing is too sacred to lie about. Nothing matters more than getting and maintaining power and control.
And laws affecting equal marriage rights are no exception. Despite gains in the past few years, the legitimacy of our unions remains tenuous as long as Republican politicians make campaign promises that include vetoing bills, appointing homophobic judges and amending state constitutions.
In Maine and California, we've seen equal marriage laws overturned by state referendum. In each one of the six states (plus the District of Columbia) that issue marriage licenses to same-sex partners, there are organized efforts to overturn our rights.
We need a strong federal law issued by Congress or the Supreme Court to invalidate legal discrimination.
If President Obama were to make marriage equality a fundamental pillar of his 2012 reelection campaign, would it help or hurt him? Clearly he believes he is better off "evolving" for the time being.
There are so many issues that are vital to the LGBT community and marriage equality is just one of those.
Living in West Virginia, Elisia and I are very concerned about the environment - specifically mountain top removal and fracking.
Climate change, jobs, investment in infrastructure, health care, women's reproductive freedoms, union rights, civil rights and education -- all of it matters.
One of the most powerful duries granted to a President is the ability to appoint justices to the Supreme Court. Because Geowge W. Bush appointed Roberts and Alito, the Supreme Court tilts to the right.
The Robert's Court is one of the most activist Supreme Courts in U.S. history -- systematically unraveling vital progressive laws that for years have protercted minorities, workers, voters and the middle class.
I'll probably get yelled at for speaking this truth -- but here goes:
If Obama is not reelected in November and another Republican president gets to appoint the next Supreme Court Justice, Roe v. Wade will probably be overturned. Corporations will get more rights that ought to be restricted to actual human citizens, laws protecting the environment and workers rights will steadily be overturned, and, sadly, any hope of federal equal marriage rights will likely whither and die on the steps of the Supreme Court.
And that's all we have to say about that. For now.
|
