This is a GREAT DAY for the United States of America.
The Supreme Court has ruled that “gender” is a protected class under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That means that businesses can not take “adverse employment action”—firing, not hiring, demoting, or otherwise penalizing employees on the basis of their gender, be they gay, lesbian, bi, trans, or whatever. This is a major change in American law. Previously, a gay person could be fired just for being gay. That was perfectly legal. That changed today. Previously, a gay person could be denied services at “common carrier” businesses like hotels and restaurants just because they were gay. That changed today. We have no idea what the further implications of this ruling will be, but they will be significant, and they will be good.
The Clean Water Act has been preserved. The Trump administration sought to effectively gut the act, and the SCOTUS denied the government’s plea to gut the Act. This is a major victory for those of us who value our environment.
The SCOTUS ruled that the State of Texas can not execute a suspect who was denied effective assistance of counsel. Previously, the SCOTUS has declined to hear such cases—allowing the state of Texas to execute prisoners as it saw fit. This time the SCOTUS decided that it would hear the case if Texas decided to execute someone who made an “ineffective assistance of counsel argument.” This is an enormous change in SCOTUS jurisprudence.
But THE MAIN THING is this. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Niel Gorsuch joined 4 liberals on the Court in these decisions, giving us a 6-3 majority. Gorsuch actually wrote the opinion securing LGBT+!rights. This is an ENORMOUS and EXCELLENT change. I will not promise that it will last, but, for the moment, I feel that this is a great day for the United States—a day worthy of celebration.
-Laelth
= new reply since forum marked as read
-Laelth
So exciting!
Now, if I go on Facebook (something very rare these days) and post how happy I am about the LGBT+ employment protections, will I start getting ads for gay cruises again? That's what happened when the marriage equality ruling came down. I thought it was delightful.
I have no idea what will happen if you go on Facebook to share your joy over these rulings, but I would do it anyway.
I believe in being HAPPY when I am happy, and to hell with those who don’t like it. They are welcome to wallow in their perpetual misery.
-Laelth
And I will join you in being happy tonight. We don't get a lot of them these days - best enjoy them when we can.
This is a happy day. Thank you for celebrating it with me.
-Laelth
I appreciate YOU.
-Laelth
-Laelth
-Laelth
victory because it affects almost ALL of us in that community.
Who doesn't need a decent job and to be treated decently when doing that job?
Who doesn't want to be treated fairly when eating at a restaurant?
And the list goes on. So this is a victory for all of us in the LGBT community - regardless.
Thank you to the majority on the Supreme Court and especially Justice Niel Gorsuch
for being on the right side of history.
It's great to be an American today.
Don't think republicans are going to take 'no' for an answer though. They promised the evangelicals they'd cut these liberals off at the ankles about abortion and gay rights. That's why it's so important to rid our government of republicans in every area of government.
