Gay Marriage, Religion and the Court

To the Editor:

Re “Thomas and Alito Raise Doubts on Same-Sex Marriage Ruling” (news article, Oct. 6):

Without a hint of irony, Justice Clarence Thomas, addressing gay marriage in an opinion joined by Justice Samuel Alito, wrote that “those with sincerely held religious beliefs concerning marriage will find it increasingly difficult to participate in society.” The justices ignore the history of marginalization of L.G.B.T.Q. people in this country in every area of life from marriage equality to adoption to health care benefits.

Their concern that those who oppose gay marriage will be perceived as bigots without acknowledgment of the history of deadly bias against those in the L.G.B.T.Q. community is stunning. These justices’ inability to comprehend that those with religious beliefs can practice for themselves without taking away rights from other individuals indicates a deficit of both empathy as well as an inability to appreciate the rights of others outside their worldview.

Elaine Edelman
East Brunswick, N.J.

To the Editor:

Dear Justices Thomas and Alito:

You are the ones stigmatizing people of faith. Since when does religious freedom apply only to a subset of Christians? I am a religious Jew, but I don’t expect others to be prohibited from eating cheeseburgers or working on Jewish holidays. Likewise, no one is forcing Christians to have abortions or get married to someone of the same sex. They even have the benefit of Christmas being a national holiday.

The Supreme Court is responsible for protecting the constitutional rights of all Americans, even the ones who do not share the personal faith of its justices. Please don’t abandon the rest of us.

Janet Gordon
San Francisco