Society worse off after SCOTUS decisions

Last June, the Supreme Court took a stand against modernity with the Dobbs decision and overturned Roe v Wade. The majority wasn’t led to a decision by facts, but rather reverse-engineered justifications from a desired outcome. Rights and protections that women and their doctors depended on disappeared.

The decision didn’t directly affect many Americans; outside of those who need comprehensive reproductive care, it might not matter much. If you are anti-abortion, over childbearing age, or a man, your day-to-day life wasn't changed by Dobbs.

The same can be said about today's 303 Creative decision. Again, the majority of justices stood against progress and codified discrimination against LGBTQ people in public accommodations. Our rights were again retracted.

What do decisions such as Dobbs and 303 Creative do but to further push us apart as a society? Instead of treating everyone with civility and fairness, we can pick and choose. Instead of neighbors and fellow citizens, we become isolated individuals fighting for our own meager existences. No wonder people feel anxious, depressed, lost.

Laws like the anti-trans bills passed in Iowa in this year, and decisions like this won't make LGBTQ people go away. Instead these divisive moves divide us.

I dread the day I see a notice on a store that LGBTQ customers aren’t welcome. Instead of the benefit of doubt, I will know for certain who in my community supports discrimination, and I will never patronize that business again. The business, and society, will be poorer for it.

Brian Bruening

Elkader