The last several weeks have been monumental with respect to the implementation of marriage equality in the United States. As gays and lesbians have celebrated the Supreme Court decision giving us equal marriage rights across the nation, there are those committed to ensuring that it is not universally applied. That is one reason why you need to remain vigilant in the fight for LGBT equality. The battle has now moved to the nebulous ground of faith – the combustible combination of politics and religion.
Quietly the Republican National Committee passed a resolution last month in support of the so-called First Amendment Defense Act (FADA). If passed, FADA will create a breakdown of government services and runaway litigation. For example, FADA will permit a federal employee to refuse to process tax returns, visa applications or Social Security checks whenever a same-sex couple’s paperwork appears on his or her desk. Meanwhile in Kentucky …
While the FADA legislation is designed to discriminate against legally married gay and lesbian couples, the concept is already being extended to couples who want to get married. Kim Davis, a clerk in Rowan County Ky., has repeatedly refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because she does not want her signature on those licenses due to her religious beliefs. Be damned the hypocrisy of issuing licenses to divorced people or adulterers. Nope, just gays and lesbians.
Davis’ refusal has made its way into the courts where she has lost several times. She has appealed to the Supreme Court without success. Yes, the same court that just ruled in favor of same-sex marriage across the nation. Davis, similar to the ideas espoused by the Republican Party, believes she has a First Amendment right, under the guise of religious freedom and protection, to deny same-sex couples marriage licenses. Yet LGBT tax dollars help pay her salary. Davis needs to be fired; her job is to issue marriage licenses according to civil law, not the laws of her supreme being.
If you thought the fight for gay and lesbian marriage equality was won, think again. Republicans, and people like Davis, believe they have a religious right to discriminate against the LGBT community in the public square. When LGBT Republicans pull the lever for their nominee in 2016, they are also agreeing with the party platform that says religious people have the right to discriminate against LGBT people in government services and beyond.
The bakery that does not want to bake your wedding cake. The county clerk that does not want to issue you a marriage license. The restaurant that does not want to serve same-sex couples. All supported by the FADA legislation and the Republican Party. And unbelievably, LGBT Republicans.
LGBT Republicans will twist themselves into knots trying to explain how they don’t support that part of the Republican Party platform. How what’s in the platform does not matter. How other issues are more important and the FADA legislation is dead on arrival. All excuses for them to support a party that hates you. Disgusting.
You need to remain engaged in the LGBT journey toward full equality. Four Republican presidential candidates have signed a pledge to work to overturn marriage equality. Bigoted people across the nation are refusing LGBT people medical services, meals at restaurants and other accommodations. The people who hate us will never give up, will you?
We must not forget about members of the LGBT community who live in the hinterlands of America. Until they can walk freely, none of us are truly free and equal. Just ask the clerk in Kentucky.
STAMPP CORBIN
PUBLISHER
San Diego LGBT Weekly
I can’t help thinking that those gay couples wanting to get married in Kentucky would have been better advised to just go to another county where they wouldn’t have that problem.The jailing of Kim Davis is only making her into a right wing martyr and a rallying point for all.religious wingnuts.She will get crowdfunding and end up very rich and with alot of attention that she doesn’t deserve.And bringing that attention to these bigots only serves to incite them.I think most gay people that encounter these bigots would be so much better off to just go to someone else for their services and show these people that they are beneath contempt.
Hey, it worked for Josh Duggar. Jesus Saves! My next step is to become a televangelist that preaches against the sins of gays. I’ll make a fortune. Or I could do a Caitlyn Jenner and become a rich media whore while under the pretense that I’m just fulfilling my dream. Do you really think Bruce would have done that if a lot of money wasn’t involved? The correct answer would be “no.”