Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:00 — 81.0MB)
The Supreme Court held a few surprises this week, one of which was on the story we brought to you about Curtis Hill, the disgraced and outgoing Attorney General for Indiana: Box v. Henderson in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit sided with eight married lesbian couples who had children via artificial insemination, as many do, including a dozen or so couples I know. They based this on the fact that Obergefell v. Hodges in illegalizing marriage equality, establishes that all marriages be treated the same. And in its later Pavan v. Smith decision, they ruled that same-sex couples do have the right to be named on their children’s birth certificates. Pretty straightforward. But Box v. Henderson was being set up to challenge the Pavan ruling and be a first success ad whittling away at Obergefell. Curtis “stray-hands” Hill’s argument was that states have the right to maintain the “biological distinction between males and females” and presume that a mother’s husband is her child’s father. I don’t know about all that presumption mess. Maury Povich wouldn’t have had a career in the 2000s if that presumption was infallibly correct. So, with a heavily right-leaning court, the conservatives still couldn’t pull it through, because different but equal still doesn’t work. The court decided not to hear it, which means that the Court of Appeals ruling stands. Woot! Screw you, Curtis Hill.
Aaaand on the other end of the spectrum, we have a case out of Michigan where a judge has ruled counter to a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year in the Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia win for equal protections under the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, in which it lays out the argument that sex does cover sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Judge Christopher Murray asserted that that Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Actdoes ban discrimination on the basis of sex—just not sexual orientation. The Act, expressly forbids discrimination based on an individual’s “religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status.” One twist is that Judge Murray’s interpretation of the law does cover transgender people. Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel vowed to appeal, stating:
“We intend to submit that all Michigan residents are entitled to protection under the law—regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation—in our appeal to this decision.”
I’m just going to let this headline from LGBTQ Nation speak for itself, no story required:
Dozens of white nationalists screamed abuse at a pro-Trump drag queen trying to speak at MAGA rally.
Hot mess. In related hot-mess-ness, Milo Yiannopoulos is mad, folks. He’s so, so upset that Trump lost the election, that the Supreme Court threw out the ridiculous Texas lawsuit to throw out results in the swing states Trump lost, and that he’s not in the media spotlight and making money, anymore. He’s coming back with a vengeance! Literally. He went on a Twitter tirade saying: “BURN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO THE ******* GROUND.” And: “Trump’s SCOTUS appointments were pointless. We defended a selfish clown for nothing.” Ooh, and this whiny shiney: “I lost everything helping to put Trump in office. My life and career were completely destroyed. Was it worth it? No. I feel utterly betrayed.” YES, honey! And finally, the money shot: “I will have vengeance.” There it is. Direct from the horse’s something!
The United States, just cot out-shone in the acceptance and education departments by another, smaller, less what one may think of as a progressive place to dwell: Cambodia! They’re set to expand their 1st grade through senior year of high school education, in age-appropriate ways, of human sexuality and gender identity. The course is being called “Life Skills.” “First, to teach children about the biology of male and female bodies,” said LGBTQ advocate Srun Srorn, who is said to have worked closely with Cambodia’s Ministry of Education on the proposal. “Second, to explain gender identity and how this could differ from the biological sex. Third, to focus on gender-based violence, forced marriage and discrimination based on sexual orientation,’ Srorn told the Phnom Penh Post. Here is a country that has been through several decades of hell, and yet, maybe because of the way their people have suffered, they have a desire to try and value all people? The curriculum, reports say, would also include sections on prevention of gender-based violence, and how to prevent HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases — which had not been taught in schools there before, according to Dr. Chhay Kim Sitheavy, director of the ministry’s School Health Department. Sitheavy said Life Skills is aimed at teaching students that homosexuality is normal and that LGBTQ people should not be discriminated against. “Values have changed over the past years and courses need to be adapted,” she said.
Biden taps that Buttigieg for Transportation Secretary!
Credits:
Produced by Melanie Davis
This episode was hosted by Melanie Davis, Ireland Meacham, and Lucas Fisher
Lucas Fisher is our engineer
