Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 8 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds   

Riddle: How Are Pregnant Citizens like Gay Citizens?

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   1 comment
Message James Nimmo
Riddle:   How Are Pregnant Citizens
 like Gay Citizens?
Answer:  Both Groups Deserve Their Privacy!

 
    (Oklahoma City)  Some of you may wonder why a gay activist would write a story on the latest US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision (Stenberg v. Carhart) that allows invading the bodily privacy of a pregnant woman, invading the verbal privacy between her and her medical professional.
     The 2003 SCOTUS decision of Lawrence v. Texas  was also  concerned with privacy--the privacy expected by common sense between consenting adults engaged in non-commercial sexual activity.
    The keyword is privacy.  Without it our human qualities of independence of action, critical thinking, right of association become strategic playthings in the political arena.
    Both of these important Court decisions are about control over our adult bodies in situations of personal decision and integrity of association.  This avarice for control has emanated for generations from fundamentalist religious sects which relish voyeuristic power over others even as their own lives are charades of hypocrisy, such as Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggert, and most recently Ted Haggard.
    Political power brokers, incestuous cousins of fundies, are nose to nose in this race to the bottom of human endeavor. Can we forget right-wing politicians such Newt Gingrich, Orin Hatch, Dennis Hastert, who delighted in prosecuting Bill Clinton in the Congress even as their own peccadilloes with women not their wives were being exposed?
    Some states are continuing to set up entrapment situations in order to arrest men under the now-invalidated sodomy laws overturned by Lawrence.  The Commonwealth of Virginia didn't get the fax and still threatens arrests.  Oklahoma City police arrested in 2006 Rev. Lonnie Latham of Tulsa, a fundie firebrand who fomented against gay marriage while cruising for non-commercial sex.  A county judge dismissed the charges.
    But many fundies and far-right politicians are still salivating like a hot canine in summer for the skins of as many gay men as can be found in order to deny them the inherent right of privacy.
SCOTUS is a very different court from the one that decided Roe v. Wade over thirty years ago and the Stenberg decision is a hair's breadth away from overturning Roe.
    The 2003 Court is likewise already very different in the four years since Lawrence was handed down, having as it now does two Bush appointments, giving it a Catholic majority.
    How many hairs are we from having Lawrence overturned?  
Rate It | View Ratings

James Nimmo Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

James Nimmo is active in progressive issues and believes no one should be denied their equality because of the accidents of birth and circumstances.
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Hall-la-lou-lou-ing for Oklahoma's Senator Tom Coburn: Congress's Worst Person?

Oklahoma's Bigot-in-Chief has Learned Nothing in 10 years

How to Spell Equality? I before E except after C. L before G except Before B?

Catholic Church Expanding Beyond Roe v. Wade

Homo-Hater's Hubby Gets Outed in Phone Call

Forced Off the Edge of Life's Road

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend