The Supreme Court's ruling that DOMA is unconstitutional is a victory for equality in our country. When two people commit themselves to a lifelong relationship (That's the hope, anyway, for straight and gay couples), they should enjoy the same protections and support whether the union is between a man and a woman, two women, or two men. SCOTUS has ruled to do otherwise is unconstitutional. Still, most states do not recognize same-sex marriages. There is still work to do.
While striking down DOMA and passing on Proposition 8 is hopeful, it is not the whole story of this court's week of rulings. As Michelangelo Signorile wrote in the first paragraph of his Huffington Post blog, The Death of DOMA and the Transformation of America on Gay Marriage, the same court gutted the Voting Rights Act, removing federal oversight of changes in voting practices in states with a history of obstructing minorities right to vote.
Citing outdated data that does not reflect current conditions, the Court put the ball in Congress's court, saying it could pass legislation deciding which areas needed federal oversight.
After the decision, Texas announced that it's strict Voter ID law, which had been blocked would be effective immediately. This is at the heart of the issue. (
New York Times article "Supreme Court Invalidates Key Part of Voting Rights Act")
Racial discrimination no longer resides primarily in voter registration process, but in gerrymandering and requiring Voter ID cards or documentation. We no longer see fire hoses and dogs turned on those attempting to register to vote. Discrimination is more subtle these days.
And there are other minorities affected by this change. Having been a poll watcher, I know first hand how long lines, intimidating demeanor, and direction to cast provisional ballots, can affect a citizen's right to vote and have it counted.
Transsexuals are particularly at risk. Often their drivers license, a common form of ID, does not match their gender expression. A "M" instead of an "F" in the gender box can raise a red flag. At a campaign stop last year, Vice President Biden commented that transgender rights are the civil rights issue of the day. A friend of mine, a white pastor who supported the Montgomery Bus Boycott and whose home was fire-bombed because of it, said something similar years ago speaking in my Even Start adult education class.
Rev. Robert Graetz had an acronym displayed beside him as he spoke: RACE - Respect All Cultures Equally. The civil rights battle was moving toward economic, sexual orientation, and gender identity issues.
While the SCOTUS made some progress on one front, it took a step backward on another. The struggle goes on.