In these times of rapid change and turmoil, many of us feel unclear about what steps we can take that could make a difference. One avenue to consider would be to support the LGBTQ+ community. Our Board Treasurer, Jamie Pendarvis, is working to re-establish our LGBTQ+ Action Group. Below is her brief overview of the situation. — Kathleen McFarlin
On June 26, 2015, marriage equality became reality with a landmark 5-4 decision in the Obergefell v. Hodges case at the U.S. Supreme Court. “Love Wins” declared the headlines.
You might have considered it to be a clear and lasting step toward equality across the LGBTQ+ community. But now, a decade later, a lawyer for Kim Davis (the former county clerk for Rowan County, Kentucky, who gained notoriety by defying a U.S. federal court order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples), argued before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals a case that he hopes will help overturn federal same-sex marriage protections. “I think… it’s not a matter of ‘if,’ it’s a matter of ‘when’ Obergefell will be overturned,” he stated.
In October 2020, Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito called for the reversing of Obergefell in a statement following the court's decision not to hear an appeal in a separate case involving Davis. “Davis may have been one of the first victims of this Court's cavalier treatment of religion in its Obergefell decision, but she will not be the last,” Alito wrote.
Paula White, head of the White House Faith Office and President of Paula White Ministries, opposes marriage equality and has preached against it. Her office has been tasked with protecting “religious liberty” and “strengthening marriage and family”. As such, protecting marriage equality is not likely to be a priority.
One of the Trump administration’s executive orders has declared there are only two genders, male and female, as assigned at birth, which effectively erases intersex individuals—those with physical characteristics of both genders. All “government-issued identification documents, including passports, visas, and Global Entry cards (must) accurately reflect the holder's sex” as defined by the executive order. As a result, gender markers can no longer be changed on Federal documents, an action which can place the transgender community in a dangerous position by exposing them in public situations.
Trans youth, in particular, have been singled out. No treatment will be allowed for gender identity under the age of 18; no participation in sports is allowed. A 2023 report from Pink News identified only five transgender athletes on girls' teams in school sports for grades K-12. According to NCAA President Charlie Baker, there are fewer than 10 transgender athletes competing in NCAA sports - less than 0.002% of the total NCAA athlete population. So perhaps, the ban is a solution searching for a problem.
The boogeyman of old has resurfaced, once again, to protect innocent women and girls from transgender women preying on them in the restroom. According to the National Center for Transgender Equality and the Human Rights Campaign, there is no statistical evidence to support the claim that this has ever happened. Congresswoman Sarah McBride, D-Del., the first openly transgender member of Congress, won’t be allowed to use women’s restrooms in the U.S. Capitol.
There are steps you can take: learn about the issues, contact your representatives to let them know how you feel; speak out, speak up, and let your voice be heard.
I invite you to join me at the LGBTQ+ Action Group meeting on March 16 at noon, in Suite 7.
Jamie Pendarvis
Treasurer, Board of Trustees
Kathleen McFarlin is Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church's Board President.