Happy Transgender Day of Visibility, everyone.
Instead of uplifting one of the marginalized people on Earth, who comprise only 1% of the population, the corrupt Supreme Court has decided to abuse its power to crush LGBTQ youth and advance its pro-death, Christian nationalist agenda.
In a shameful and dangerous 8-1 decision, the Supreme Court sided with Kaley Chiles, an evangelical Christian therapist, who sued Colorado in 2022 and argued the state’s ban on conversion therapy infringed upon her free speech and First Amendment. Chiles, and right-wing religious zealots like her, want the freedom to impose a failed “therapy” that has been compared to torture by the UN.
“Colorado may regard its policy as essential to public health and safety, but the First Amendment stands as a shield against any effort to enforce orthodoxy in thought or speech in this country,” wrote Justice Gorsuch for the majority, which sadly included Justices Kagan and Sotomayor.
The lone dissent came from Justice Jackson, who warned, “The Constitution does not pose a barrier to reasonable regulation of harmful medical treatments just because substandard care comes via speech instead of a scalpel,” and added the ruling “risks grave harm to Americans’ health and well-being.”
She’s correct.
This decision now impacts nearly two dozen states that have also passed laws barring “conversion therapy,” which has been criticized by medical organizations as being ineffective and dangerous to young LGBTQ+ minors.
But, F them kids, am I right? We have to save their souls before the Rapture!
This ruling follows an egregious pattern of the MAGA Supreme Court in expanding the religious freedoms and rights of Christians. This includes allowing parents to opt out of school curricula that promote inclusion and tolerance, protecting bakers who want to discriminate against gay couples, and making it easier for Christian organizations to receive public funds for charter schools. Recall that Justice Alito’s wife flew two flags associated with the January 6th insurrectionists, including an Appeal to Heaven flag that has been co-opted by Christian Nationalists.
To save the children, the Trump Administration and its Supreme Court don’t need to rely on science, data, and medical expertise. They just go on vibes, baby!
For example, former drug addict and permanent conspiracy theorist RFK Jr is the head of our Health and Human Services and has decided to wage war on vaccines to make preventable childhood diseases great again. He has also inverted the food pyramid and promoted tanning beds, because why not give the kids an increased chance of cancer while they’re trying to run from bullets during weekly mass shootings across the country?
If given a choice of expanding the tent and letting all of us enjoy the shade and shelter, MAGA has decided to burn down the entire village instead. Free speech for me, silence for thee. Safe space for me, none for three. Civility for me, cruelty for three.
I invited attorney and host Katie Phang to analyze today’s ruling and highlight the dangerous hypocrisy of a right-wing Supreme Court that is no longer beholden to the Constitution or the rule of law, but is content being used as a weapon against diversity, progress, and freedom for the majority.
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Thank you Caro Henry, Pamela, Leah Anderson, Lalisa, PJ Schuster, and many others for tuning into my live video with Katie Phang! Join me for my next live video in the app.
