By Matt Patrick, Columnist
We are on the eve of what could be the most sweeping and landmark Supreme Court case since Roe v. Wade or even Brown v. Board of Education.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on two cases concerning same-sex marriage last month.
Thousands of people rallied outside of the Supreme Court to show support or dissent.
One of the cases, Hollingsworth v. Perry, deals with California’s Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage only months after the California Supreme Court declared that the right to marry should be extended to gay and lesbian couples.
The other case, Windsor v. United States, deals with the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal that grants federal marriage benefits to only opposite-sex marriages.
The court appears to be deeply divided on these issues.
The court may rule in a number of different ways, not all of which would be beneficial to the gay community. If this happens, I encourage supporters and activists to stay strong in their fight for freedom and equality.
The struggle has not been easy by any means and will continue to be difficult in the future.
In 1954, Brown v. Board of Education concluded that separate-but equal-school facilities are unconstitutional.
Despite the sweeping nature of the court’s ruling, it took nearly 30 years for every state to fully integrate schools, public transportation and other institutions.
If the court rules that gay and lesbian couples have the right to marry in all 50 states, it is safe to assume that the fight will continue.
More conservative states will fight the court’s order, and it will take years for marriage rights to be recognized by all of the states.
Gay rights activists and supporters are in good company.
It took an extended, concerted effort to earn women and African-Americans the right to vote.
Social liberals have fought for hundreds of years for the cause of equal rights among all people.
We must fulfill the creed of “liberty and justice for all.”
We must rise up and break away from the hatred, bigotry and ignorance that lock us in a seemingly endless chain of discrimination and oppression.
No matter the decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, it will be of paramount importance that we fervently pursue the cause for our gay brothers and sisters.
It was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said, “Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”
Leave a Reply