‘Dignity’ of ENDA 2015

U.S. Associate Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy in his historic June 26, 5-4 Majority Opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges, used the word “dignity” nine times. The decision ended state same-sex marriage bans in favor of same-sex wedding bands.

Same-sex families can now fully realize the long delayed promise of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” for all Americans contained in the Declaration of Independence. Five Supreme Court Justices found the U.S. Constitution afforded same-sex couples the “dignity” marriage bestows on them and their families.

{mosads}Newspaper headlines across the country and the globe likewise hailed the ‘dignity” of the Supreme Court decision in recognizing same-sex families with all the rights and responsibilities of other families. Soon families will be families without regard to sexuality.

In one sense, the sexuality war is over; in another sense it has just begun. It is not, though, politically wise for Congress, collectively or as individual members, to promote an agenda to deny Americans their dignity. Some will try but they should listen to the wisdom of the Supreme Court on the dignity of marriage and two American leaders on the dignity of work.

Political and religious leaders from former President Ronald Reagan to civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., have spoken about the dignity of work. Their words are important as Congress considers ending employment discrimination against LGBT workers by passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

From his 1980 presidential acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Detroit, Reagan said, “Work, and family area at the center of our lives, the foundation of our dignity as a free people.” Every member of Congress should consider Reagan’s fundamental wisdom and fairness for all American workers and families.

Employment was a key element of Dr. King’s civil rights campaigns across the country and his historic 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. In March 1968, Dr. King said, ”All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” Workplace equality will certainly motivate workers to greater productivity and career satisfaction and greater success.

Both Reagan and King understood Washington and the courts had important roles to play in equality, freedom and employment. Justice Kennedy was appointed to the Court by Reagan and his emphasis on “dignity” reflects his understanding of the legacies of Reagan and King. 

Thus it is in America that labor and marriage strengthen individuals, families and our fundamental American values of fairness and dignity. Same-sex families now have national protections against efforts to deny them their Constitutional rights to marry the person of their choice and not a person forced on them by social expectations or institutions slow to change with the times.

Dignity began for the LGBT community at Stonewall Inn in New York in 1969, when police harassment produced riots. The Stonewall Riots birthed LGBT Pride and the long walk to the dignity of our relationships that GOP Justice Kennedy vocalized for the world on June 26, 2015.

GOP Senator Jesse Helms (N.C.), who once publicly called me a “pervert” (see the Congressional Record, July 19, 1994) for promoting workplace fairness for LGBT workers in the federal sector, never offered any dignity to gays and lesbians, only crude redneck insults and heartless laughter at gay men and lesbians. Helms voted to confirm Kennedy to the Supreme Court.

What remains is the important and dignified work of passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which has lingered in perpetual debate in Congress for over 20 years thanks to Helms and his followers.

Reagan and King were giants compared to the simple, narrow mind of Jesse Helms. For members of Congress who want to honor the dignified spirits of Reagan and King, they should find a way to extend workplace equality, fairness and dignity .to all Americans without regard to sexuality. They should work together to pass ENDA in 2015.    

Former Washington diplomat, Patterson is a writer based in San Francisco. He blogs at www.HumanRightsIssues.com