Hello Friend,
Just this morning, some alarming statements from two Supreme Court Justices sent a clear message that LGBTQ rights, particularly marriage equality, are still under attack.
The Court denied a writ of certiorari today in a case brought by well-known extremist Kim Davis — meaning this appeal won’t be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court this term. While this denial is a bit of good news, Justices Thomas and Alito took it as an opportunity to renew their war on LGBTQ rights and the historic marriage equality decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015).
They are paving the way for an anti-equality court, just as Senate Republicans rush to confirm Amy Coney Barrett, who herself is an anti-equality extremist. We must take action!
We cannot and will not keep quiet as our rights are under attack. That’s why I’m reaching out to ask you to join us as #WeDissent. Add your name in opposition.
There’s power in numbers, friend. Since we first launched this campaign in honor of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, nearly 35,000 of you took action against this hurried confirmation process because you understand what’s at stake. Well, the stakes just got even higher.
If you haven’t signed on yet, I implore you to do so. If you have already signed this petition, thank you! Please forward this to your loved ones now and ask them to join you in this fight. Then, consider signing up to volunteer with tens of thousands of HRC members like you for the critical electoral work ahead.
The language from Thomas and Alito today proves yet again that a segment of the Court views LGBTQ rights as “ruinous” (a direct quote) and remains dead set against protecting and preserving the rights of LGBTQ people.
Amy Coney Barrett has openly claimed to hold similar views to Justice Antonin Scalia, who Thomas and Alito channel with this opinion. That fact, along with Barrett’s ties to anti-equality extremist groups who aim to criminalize LGBTQ relationships in the U.S. and abroad, shows that Barrett will only embolden these anti-equality extremist views on the Court.
Just as Justice Ginsburg said in her argument in United States v. Windsor (2013), we cannot accept a “skim-milk marriage” that is watered-down and could lead to unequal treatment of marriage for same-sex couples, like eliminated hospital visitation rights and medical decision-making power for LGBTQ couples at religiously affiliated medical centers.
With so much on the line, I hope you’ll join me and tens of thousands of HRC members and supporters like you nationwide as #WeDissent. Add your name now, then sign up to volunteer.
Thank you,
