Other liberals prevailed upon Stevens to remove the line. Such divisions are likely to continue when the court acts soon in another major case regarding First Amendment rights and LGBTQ interests.ĭraft language of a dissent from Justice John Paul Stevens that invoked the infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision. The majority ruled that the organization could, based on its freedom of expressive association, exclude a gay scoutmaster because of the Scouts opposition to homosexuality.Īs the Supreme Court’s attitude toward gay rights has evolved in recent decades, dissenting justices have often divided in their level of moral outrage and how to express it publicly. Stevens ended up dropping the Nazi and Dred Scott references from his dissent to the majority’s decision in Boy Scouts of America v. More broadly, he added, “It is important for us to recognize what this case represents: the latest in a long line of decisions influenced by historical prejudices and explained as the product of a Court caught in the midst of a sea change in social conventions and attitudes,” Stevens added. “It is critical for the dissent to unmask that reality.” “(U)nderlying every analytical flaw the majority makes is its habitual way of thinking about homosexuals,” Stevens wrote in a memo addressed to Souter as he defended the use of Nazi imagery, as well as a reference to the Dred Scott opinion that endorsed slavery in 1857. Stevens initially objected, but softened some of his rhetoric to win their backing, a story revealed for the first time in the late justice’s personal papers – reviewed by CNN as the documents were opened this month at the Library of Congress.
Twenty-one activities enliven the history and demonstrate the spirited ways the LGBT community has pushed for positive social change."-Provided by publisher.Memos show how Supreme Court justices scramble at the end of the session This up-to-date history includes the landmark Supreme Court decision making marriage equality the law of the land. "Who transformed George Washington's demoralized troops at Valley Forge into a fighting force that defeated an empire? Who cracked Germany's Enigma code and shortened World War II? Who successfully lobbied the US Congress to outlaw child labor? And who organized the 1963 March on Washington? Ls, Gs, Bs, and Ts, that's who. Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 163-173) and index.
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