Dear John, Today, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, a case on whether taxpayer-funded foster care agencies can discriminate against LGBTQ people based on religious beliefs. In a unanimous (9-0) decision, the Court narrowly ruled in favor of Catholic Social Services. There is much to learn about today's decision, but what we do know is that it does not create a general right for taxpayer-funded foster care agencies to discriminate against LGBTQ people based on their religious beliefs. That means that government agencies can continue to enforce laws that protect LGBTQ people and others from discrimination as long as they do so neutrally. Because SCOTUS believes that the City of Philadelphia was not neutral in its application, the Court rendered a decision that favors Catholic Social Services. Despite this, we remain optimistic because the ruling is confined to the circumstances presented in this case. This decision is an important reminder that we still need Congress to protect LGBTQ people and pass federal nondiscrimination protections. It was only a year ago that Virginia became the first state in the South to enact statewide nondiscrimination protections under the Virginia Values Act, meaning that we know all too well how critical it is to have these laws on the books. |
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Equality Virginia is a part of a coalition that is working tirelessly to digest the opinion and we'll be sharing that analysis with you at two virtual events tonight. RSVP to join us at our Rally followed by a Town Hall, starting at 7pm ET. Together, we’ll gather together in a community and hear from experts who will provide a comprehensive analysis of the opinion. We'll also take a deep-dive into how this decision affects our lives, and what still needs to be done. Today’s ruling is a small sigh of relief, but it is also a powerful reminder of how much work is left to do to in order to ensure that all LGBTQ Americans are protected from discrimination. LGBTQ people still experience discrimination in their daily lives, which is why we are calling for the passage of federal nondiscrimination protections like the ones outlined in the Equality Act and the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act, which would end discrimination in adoption and foster care. As we navigate today's ruling together, we hope you can join tonight us at 7pm ET for our Rally, and don’t forget to RSVP here for the login to the Town Hall happening immediately after at 8:30pm ET to learn more about the decision and its potential effects. In Solidarity, Andaiye McAndrew
Policy and Communications Coordinator |
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