The recent Hobby Lobby supreme court decision found that closely held corporations (any company that has a limited number of shareholders) do not have to comply with the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that insurance plans cover women’s contraception if that conflicts with the religious beliefs of the business’s owner.
This controversial decision has many concerned about what the effects of this decision will be in the future.
Some see the possibility of businesses using the ruling to discriminate based on sexual orientation, gender, disability or age.
The decision has already had an effect on the fight for gay-rights in the workplace. President Barack Obama has pledged to issue an executive order banning employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity among government contractors. But after the decision was made, religious leaders requested that an exception for religious employers be included.
Gay rights advocates argue that religious groups already enjoy broad exemption and there’s no need to further allow discrimination.
A likely effect of the ruling would be that companies ask for exemption in serving certain groups, like the LGBT community.
Only time will tell what influence the ruling will have in our country. Do you think the decision will lead to discrimination or will it be an isolated event?
