Lesbian Relationship Challenges Support Group
This community is for those who are in a gay marriage, and the unique challenges that may be had in a same-sex relationship. Find support and talk to others in a same-sex marriage, and get advice from the experiences of other members.
Hobby Lobby came before the Supreme Court, asking the Court to find that the company, a privately owned company, owned by people whose religious beliefs prevented them from allowing abortion, to be able to withdraw that legal obligation to provide IUD's and morning after pills to their female employees. The Court today, found for the company in a 5 to 4 decision. Justice Ginsberg, from the bench, gave a blistering dissent, noting that five men today opened a can of worms, for if today, it is all right for Hobby Lobby to withdraw contraceptive measures, what prevents another company owned by Jehova's Withness from not covering blood transfusions, or all contraception by a company owned by Catholics, or vaccines not covered...etc.
But perhaps more dangerous, this decision lays the ground work for other faith based legislation. Arizona this year passed a bill that was to legalize discrimination against gays by anyone whose faith felt homosexuality to be a sin. The bill was not signed into law by the governor, perhaps for fear that it would be overturned by the Supreme Court. Now? Those justices who voted for the company: 2 were nominated by Reagan,, 1 by Bush, and 2 by Bush Jr.
I feel very sad today and very ill.
But perhaps more dangerous, this decision lays the ground work for other faith based legislation. Arizona this year passed a bill that was to legalize discrimination against gays by anyone whose faith felt homosexuality to be a sin. The bill was not signed into law by the governor, perhaps for fear that it would be overturned by the Supreme Court. Now? Those justices who voted for the company: 2 were nominated by Reagan,, 1 by Bush, and 2 by Bush Jr.
I feel very sad today and very ill.
It is law that women have a right to their reproductive life. If they so chose not to have children, they have that right. The Court's Hobby Lobby decision allows that company to block that right within the scope of that business. The Court's decision was based on religious grounds. In this case, religion trumps individual rights...
Religious freedom is a right in this country. That is true. But it has long been held that your religious freedom extends only so far as to yourself. You have no right to extend your religious beliefs on another person. The extent of this went so far as to make it illegal for Jehovah Witness parents to prevent blood transfusions for their own children. Until this decision.
This Court decision is a threat to women's health issues. It is no small thing that all women justices dissented on this decision, and five men found for the decision. Ginsberg, in her dissent, points to the can of worms this decision ushers in (the points I raise being among them). If you haven't, you should read her dissent.
But more germane to our group, it opens the door for legal discrimination against gays, for many believe Leviticus is the word of God, and homosexuality is a sin. As such, retribution is a duty. Two women last year were getting married in the State of Washington, where such unions are legal. The shop owner, where these women wanted to buy a wedding cake, refused service because the owner was against gay marriage. The Court now has to allow for such faith-based discrimination.
This decision, is indeed, a very big deal.
Do women also have a right to make other people pay for our reproductive decisions?
...sorry to get on my soapbox but freedom is a very special thing to me as for years I was forced to "live out" someone else's idea of WHO I should be. I never had choices or the right to control what happened to my body. Just please give this matter some serious thought, ladies. ((HUGS))