SOAP BOX | Civil Rights Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

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There were three important decisions that were handed down this week from the Supreme Court. Two giant steps forward were made when the Supreme Court declared DOMA or Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional and also declined to take up the appeal of a California court’s decision to strike down Proposition 8, which outlawed same sex marriage, in California. These two decisions are vital steps toward providing equal protection under our constitution and we applaud the court for recognizing that love is blind to sexual orientation.

Unfortunately, the court took a big step backwards in declaring important sections of the Voting Rights Act to be unconstitutional. This act, which was overwhelmingly renewed in 2006, had ensured that voting rights were preserved in areas where there had been widespread voter suppression in the past. The law had been a success in bringing many new voters into the process as well as in electing minority representatives in state legislatures and the US Congress. The court asked Congress to “fix” the law but it seems that this current “do-nothing” Congress is unlikely to act.

Voting is a sacred right and obligation of a citizen and in times where we see efforts in states to restrict voting or we see long lines of people waiting to exercise their rights, it does seem that it is high time to make sure that every citizen is given equal access to the ballot box.

I applaud the court in recognizing that our gay and lesbian friends and neighbors are citizens deserving of equal rights, not only in marriage but in employment and every other area where we apply the famous phrase from our Declaration of Independence: “…all men are created equal.” “Attaboy’s” and “Attagirl’s” to SCOTUS for these rulings on equal rights and, unfortunately, shame on them for gutting the Voting Rights Act.

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