Dangers of SOTUS vacancy to the LGBT community

The Democratic National Committee has launched a new media campaign, #FillTheSeat, to highlight how the Republican obstruction regarding on the vacancy in the Supreme Court affects every American and to explain why it is so critical for the Republican senators to do their jobs and allow a vote on President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee.

In a media call Monday, Congressman Jared Polis and Congressman Mark Takano discussed what's at stake for the LGBT community in filling the Supreme Court vacancy.

“In 1988, Ronald Reagan said "The federal judiciary is too important to be made a political football." I couldn't agree more,” said Polis. “Of course, Reagan said that while building support for his Supreme Court nominee Anthony Kennedy, who was confirmed in the final year of Reagan's presidency.”

It’s still legal for private employers to fire someone for being gay in 28 states and for being trans in 30 states, which has sparked some support for the Equality Act in congress. But it’s still not the law.

“Until then,” continued Polis, “the Courts are the final recourse for many LGBT Americans.

“At the same time, Republicans in Congress have proposed the First Amendment Defense Act, which would allow government employees like Kim Davis and private businesses to discriminate against LGBT people under the guise of so-called religious freedom.

 “We need someone on the court who is going to give any potential case a fair hearing. As important, we can't leave a vacancy on the court while these and other issues move up to it.”

“The Supreme Court certainly could play a role in current and future fights over LGBT equality,” said Takano. “Just recently, a federal judge in Virginia ruled that a transgender student who faced discrimination at his high school was not protected by the law under Title Nine of the Civil Rights Act. The student's attorneys are now appealing that. In January, another judge ruled that sexual orientation was not protected by current employment discrimination law under Title Seven.   

“Officials in Mississippi are still refusing to allow same-sex parents to adopt children…All of these issues and more could make their way to the Supreme Court in the coming years. That's why it's so critical for our community that the court isn't left with a vacancy, and that President Obama's nominee is afforded a fair hearing and a vote in the Senate.

“The President was elected twice by the American people. The argument that somehow we should wait to see whom they elect next is disconnected from reality. He has the constitutional duty to nominate, and the Senate has the duty to act on it.”

The DNC also released a video in conjunction with the new campaign entitled "We're Not Done" to highlight how much is at stake.

The Gayly- 2/23/2016 @ 10:08 AM CST