Opinion: Celebrate court ruling, but know much work remains
By This week’s historic ruling by the United States Supreme Court finally affirms the decades-long fight for marriage equality. My heart is filled with joy knowing that all couples nationwide will now enjoy the same right to marry under the law.
It has been a long and complicated journey since the first same-sex couple walked into a courthouse in Minneapolis 45 years ago and tried to get a marriage license. Many in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community—myself included—never imagined we would live to see this day.
Yet while the ruling represents a critical step forward for LGBTQ people and their families, our quest for full equality is far from complete.
We were vividly reminded of that in Justice Scalia’s dissenting opinion when he said that this decision “is a threat to American democracy.”
Throughout most of the state of Idaho it is still legal to fire someone, or deny them housing, simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. This means that an individual can get married to their partner on Sunday and be fired on Monday for sharing photos from their wedding with co-workers.
This profound injustice must be addressed now.
The absence of statewide legal protections leaves far too many LGBTQ Idahoans vulnerable to poverty and financial instability.
National statistics confirm this reality. According to a 2014 report from the Center for American Progress and the Movement Advancement Project, LGBTQ Americans are more likely than non-LGBTQ Americans to be poor, even though individuals in same-sex couples are more likely to be in the labor force than individuals in opposite-sex couples. Single LGBTQ parents are three times more likely to live near the poverty line than their non-LGBTQ peers. And queer people of color and transgender people face higher rates of poverty and food insecurity than white LGBTQ adults and non-LGBTQ adults.
Legal protections provided by employment non-discrimination ordinances are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the challenges facing the LGBTQ community. Transgender people across the state are denied access to lifesaving care on a daily basis. LGBTQ youth face homelessness at incredibly high rates—up to 40 percent of homeless youth across the country identify as LGBTQ. Far too many of our youth are unsafe at school; with high levels of bullying, harassment, and curriculums that they don’t see themselves reflected in. And many of our elders fear growing older knowing they lack structures and supports needed to age with dignity.
Make no mistake about it: The Supreme Court ruling is a watershed moment for our nation. In the past few years, we have also seen 12 cities across Idaho pass local non-discrimination ordinances protecting LGBTQ residents from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. And this past legislative session marked the first time that the legislature held a hearing on the “Add the Words” bill, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity/expression as protected classes in the Idaho Human Rights Act. The scales are tilting toward equality, and it is only a matter of time before state lawmakers recognize this fact.
But I am also acutely aware that too many LGBTQ people across the state and around the nation remain fearful, invisible and silenced. Everyone deserves to be protected in the workplace, safe at school, and able to access quality healthcare and education.
Ultimately, the LGBTQ movement is about actively and fully recognizing the humanity and potential in each of us. It’s a daily commitment to truly see each other and to hear each other.
As Justice Kennedy wrote for the majority opinion: "It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves," Kennedy said. "They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.”
We have shown what our community is capable of with today’s marriage equality victory. I hope everyone takes this moment to celebrate and acknowledge the hard work that has led to this ruling. And after we’re finished celebrating, we hope you’ll join us in the important work that lies ahead.
Kris Hermanns is the executive director of Pride Foundation, a regional community foundation that inspires giving to expand opportunities and advance full equality for LGBTQ people across the Northwest.