In Their Court

Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 should go down in history for every single gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer American. Because today is the day the Supreme Court will hear arguments on three cases that will decide whether we can be legally fired for simply being who we are as gay or trans people. Even more than marriage, this gets down to our most basic rights as Americans - our ability to work and make a living and pursue life, liberty and happiness other citizens enjoy in this country.

It cannot be overstated how important this case is to us and what impact it will have. Currently there are 28 states in the United States without basic LGBTQ protections for employment, housing and public accommodations. That means, in those 28 states, it is perfectly legal to fire someone, refuse them a rental or deny someone your business’ service because they are gay.

That’s more than half of the country.

It should be noted that the Trump administration is arguing against us - which should come as no shock to anyone who has been paying attention. This is the president, after all, who has banned all trans servicemembers from the military and plans to allow agencies to ban LGBTQ Americans from adopting children based on so-called “religious exemptions.” And, of course, his administration also opposed the Equality Act, which would protect LGBTQ Americans from the exact discrimination the Supreme Court is going to decide on.

So here we are. At the precipice of disaster or elation. With this court I hear deeply for the former. With Trump appointees Neil “Merrick Garland Should Have My Seat” Gorsuch and Brett “I Sexually Assault Women And Get Away With It, Ask Me How” Kavanaugh on the bench my optimism is beyond low. But at this point all we can do is hope the better legal angels convince those nine Supreme Court justices that our livelihoods are worth protecting.

In the end, this is why you vote for Democrats in every single election. Because the fucking Supreme Court, that’s why. Because imagine where we would be if Hillary won. Imagine where we’d be if Obama was able to get Garland a confirmed. Imagine how different things would be if the people who believe we should have rights - which polls have shown overwhelmingly most of the country does - all actually voted.

It doesn’t matter who wins the Democratic primary. I will vote for her or, if I must, him. Even if he isn’t my favorite. Even if I’m sad my candidate lost. And it’s because the Supreme Court is for life. And the Supreme Court decides whether our lives are worth protecting. And that’s everything.