It seems hell has made it to earth.
Friday the Supreme Court ruled 6 to 3 in favor of Colorado web designer Lorie Smith to discriminate against same-sex couples. Now allowing businesses across the United States, including progressive states like California, to refuse to serve LGBTQ+ people.
How did this happen?
Years ago, the Colorado bakery case threatened a similar notion to refuse to serve fellow humans just for loving who they love and being who they are, so this isn’t a new sentiment. However, with the anti-trans bills flooding states and the Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action and student loan debt, there seems to be a larger crusade going on.
This is real. It was easy for some to ignore what has occurred in Florida and Texas but not anymore. As reported by the L.A. Times, “The decision applies even in states like California where civil rights laws forbid discrimination based on sexual orientation.”
Smith argued that her Christian faith “requires her” to turn away customers seeking same-sex union celebrations, claiming it is within her first amendment right to do so.
What won today wasn’t free speech, it was hate.
Denying right to spaces is the next step in othering the LGBTQ+ community, distinctly creating an “us” and “them” and a “here” and “there” for people to be categorized in the hierarchy of society.
Because now the hierarchy is as clear as ever.
These three Supreme Court decisions all work together to perpetuate a systematic categorization. First, affirmative action: making it clear that if you are Black or brown, you do not belong at a university and if you belong here, your “merits” will show it. Second, student debt: perpetuating generational wealth and making it difficult for low income people to have access to university education. Last, LGBTQ+ rights.
For a while, it seemed equity was possible within the United States governmental system through reparations and legalization of same-sex marriage. Now, it seems even the loudest voices opposing the system are trapped in an echo chamber asking for basic respect and rights.
We foresaw this coming after Roe v. Wade was overturned. It made people bold enough to hate outwardly even more and impose their politics on people’s bodies. A consequence we see now as the bodies of Black, brown, low-income and LGBTQ+ are being discarded and discriminated against.
This draws attention to the problem with the “for life” tenure of the Supreme Court. Not only does one individual have the power to appoint whoever they want, the appointees are tenured for life. So even if public opinion and needs shift, the people who are meant to act as advocates of the people do not have to change or adhere to us.
The U.S. Supreme Court is not for the people.
And us, the younger generation, will be left with this dystopian reality.
The trickle down effects of these three decisions are undeniable. Take USC for example, although President Carol Folt assured the university will stay committed to diversity, but they raised tuition recently yet again. They still consider legacy, donor and athletic admissions which ultimately benefit who? The rich and white who have access to education and other resources already.
This also surely will deter marginalized community members from applying to college, especially because now student loan debt is running rampant. And if businesses are allowed to discriminate based on sexual orientation, what’s to stop this from beginning to resemble racial discrimination and gender-based discrimination?
Lorie Smith chose to take away the right to spaces and services for LGBTQ+ people. She, like other white women in the GOP, believes this ruling won’t negatively affect her. Little does she know that the rights of white women will also be under attack when all the rights of marginalized groups are taken. Because if you are not a rich, white, cis-man, you’re inferior. We already see this happening with the threats to ban no fault divorce in some states, which would trap women in their marriages. How can you not see your rights are next?
To the U.S. Supreme Court, I only will say this: we can only take so much. With enough anger and mobilization, I see a future without you or your hate. Your sun will set.