By Dee Jae Cox
I once saw a sign in a Dentist’s office that read, “You don’t have to floss all of your teeth, just the ones you want to keep.” It resonated so strongly, because I thought of how many things that sentiment could be applicable to. Such as Human Rights. You don’t have to fight for all of your rights… just the ones you want to keep.
This past week the Supreme Court denied an appeal from former Kentucky County Clerk, Kim Davis, who has faced hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and legal fees for refusing to issue marriage licenses after the court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which allowed the legalization of marriage for same sex couples.
Davis, was seeking to overturn this ruling and therefore avoid the hundreds of thousands of dollars she owes. Believing that since this court had disregarded women’s constitutional rights to privacy and bodily autonomy, by throwing out the fifty-year Constitutional precedent, Roe v Wade, they would have the same disregard for LGBTQ rights. No doubt the LGBTQ community was as surprised to have this application denied as Davis was.
The overturning of Roe v Wade brought about the realization that American Constitutional rights are not safe and that they could be absolved merely based on the right-wing ideology of the court.
The rejection of Davis’ case is by no means an indication of what the future holds for Obergefell v. Hodges, any more than it is for the future of so many constitutional rights that the right-wing agenda has shown a willingness to overturn if it does not fit their conservative ideology.
Marriage Licenses are issued by the State, not the Church. Marriage is a legal right, not a religious one. Adding a religious element is a personal choice that should be protected, but not at the subjugation of those with a different belief system. Those who believe their religious rights supersede everyone else’s civil and human rights, have made a once strong and progressive nation, which has been known as a world leader in democracy and human rights, now on par with Authoritarian led nations, such as Russia and Hungary.
In 2022, under the Biden Administration, the RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT (RMA) was codified into law. RMA repealed the Defense of Marriage Act, (DOMA) which defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman. RMA requires all states to recognize any marriages that were legal in the state where they were performed. This was done in foresight of Obergefell v. Hodges, and Loving v. Virginia (Legalizing Interracial marriage,) being nullified by the Supreme Court.
Under the Trump Administration, there are continuous assaults on the rule of law and the basic tenets of our democracy, including targeting law firms that challenge these attacks. The United States government has historically protected and sought to expand human rights, those efforts have now been withdrawn, and ways to subjugate put in their place.
In 2025, Trump revoked dozens of executive orders, including those that sought to advance racial and gender equality. They have made Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, (DEI) a dirty word because it does not protect the superiority of white men.
This Administration continues to try and force Americans to ‘bend the knee,’ through efforts that will strip them of many rights.
Birthright Citizenship, a Constitutional right, is currently on the chopping block. (Despite the fact that 4 out of 5 of Trump’s children were born to immigrants.)
Americans have a right to live free of fear inflicted by their government. Men in dark masks are dragging adults and children with brown skin, many of whom are American citizens or legal residents, out of cars, out of businesses, court houses, and their homes and physically attacking them, terrifying not only the victims, but anyone who witnesses such brutal assaults.
Human Rights, such as food, affordable medical care, and the First Amendment Rights to Freedom of Speech, the Press, Assembly, as well as religion, are threatened by this administration’s authoritarianism, which promotes violence and suppression when voices speak out against them.
In response to all of this, across the country “No Kings” protests are being held with continuously growing numbers of participants. Because we do not have to fight for all of our rights, just the ones we want to keep.
