Impact of Gay Marriage Ruling on Religious Institutions and the Economy

This article is the 2^nd part of a three-part series on the Supreme Court ruling on same sex-marriage, and to give a clear understanding of the different aspects of the said ruling, here are some curated thoughts on how this will impact religious institutions and their religious freedom, whether or not it will lead to more legal battles. The article will also present what good the decision will bear on the economy. Diversity companies, who stand firm in their commitment to diversity and inclusion, are positive the decision will spur economic growth in the country.

Impact on Religious Freedom and Religious Institutions

A critical aspect of the new law is on how it will affect religious freedom, a point discussed by 4 SC justices in their dissenting opinion. The Atlantic noted in its article that as more and more states have legalized same-sex marriage, religious conservatives have expressed anxiety about attacks on religious freedom...But as Alito, Roberts, Scalia, and Thomas point out, this decision will almost certainly kick off a series of legal challenges related to religious liberty. The justices focus on three issues in particular, some of which have already created legal and political tussles: gay adoption; the tax-exempt status of religious organizations that wish to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation; and the obligation of private churches and individuals to recognize and perform same-sex marriages. - Read more here:

As expected, many religious leaders, including the Catholic Church and other Christian churches have expressed their discontent. Yet a smaller but equally impassioned group of evangelicals celebrated the fact that marriage equality is no longer just a dream for LGBT couples across America. And it's these leaders who may be pointing to the future of the movement. - Read more here:  See also:

 

In an article, the Pew Research Center presented crucial questions on how the ruling could affect religious institutions. Virtually everyone agrees that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution offers some protections for religious groups.[...]But what about a church basement or retreat center, which is rented out for opposite-sex weddings? And what about a religiously affiliated institution, like a university, that offers married heterosexual students housing but refuses such accommodation for married gay and lesbian students? These questions have real-world implications, since virtually all American religious groups have affiliated nonprofits (such as schools, hospitals and charities).

This same article likewise presents some differing opinions from authorities. There are those who think the SC decision will not lead to widespread acrimony and legal battles; but University of Illinois law professor Robin Fretwell Wilson think institutions will be pressured to give ground on gay marriage by federal authorities (such as the Internal Revenue Service, which could take away an institution’s tax-exempt status), state civil rights commissions or private lawsuits. - Read more here:

Impact On the Economy 

Support for the SC ruling on gay marriage from the business sector is overwhelming, news from different sources show.

An article on the Wall Street Journal reads: Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing arguments on the case, 379 companies, including Apple Inc., Hilton Hotels and Walt Disney Co. filed an amicus brief in support of legalizing same-sex marriage. As news spread of the Supreme Court’s decision many of the companies that were part of the brief took to social media. As of Friday afternoon, there were more than 1.8 million tweets mentioning #lovewins, the top trending hashtag about the Supreme Court decision, according to Topsy, a social analytics company. - See more here:

In this video by USA Today, Janice Cowhey, a partner at Marcum, says there are financial implications for individuals and businesses. While generally positive about how the ruling is going to impact the economy, such as in terms of how the marriage industry is going to boom, she says businesses and individuals are going to start to think about a lot of things now.

A report by Fortune also notes a potential economic boon brought about by the SC decision on same-sex marriage: In an article last year, the Washington Post estimated that the decision could prove to be a $2.6 billion economic windfall in the next three years when passed across the U.S. That figure, which was calculated by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, sees the majority of its money coming from states including California, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Washington, the publication reported at the time. - Read more here   

In sum, on one hand, legal battles regarding religious freedom of religious institutions that are against same-sex marriage may ensue. On the other hand, while it is a period of adjustments for companies that are in support of the ruling, as well as for LGBT couples, the economy is seen to benefit from it.

DiversityWorking.com, the largest job board online, is a career opportunity resource and job search engine for the cultural diversity marketplace. Through DiversityWorking.com, you can post jobs for veterans who can readily fill your diversity and equal employment opportunity requirements. Visit DiversityWorking.com now.

Same-Sex Marriage Now Legal in the USA, SC Rules

Same-sex marriage is now legalized nationwide in the USA, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday in a landmark decision, a historic victory for gay rights advocates, as well as business institutions strongly committed to the values of diversity and inclusion. This decision, which strikes down bans against gay marriage that had previously existed in 14 states, comes after decades of protest and litigation on behalf of gays and lesbians. - Read more here:

The justices heard oral arguments in the case on April 28, though they gave little indication as to which way they were leaning. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, seen as the key voter, said it was "difficult" for the court to change the traditional definition of marriage from one that's been used for millennia, the Washington Post reported. But he later said same-sex couples recognized the nobility of marriage and wanted to share in it. - Read more here:

 

News of the historic ruling on gay marriage was greeted with both cheers, from gay-lesbian communities and their supporters, and jeers from critics. The President himself was jubilant, and in his remarks following the ruling, he said: This ruling is a victory for Jim Obergefell and the other plaintiffs in the case. It’s a victory for gay and lesbian couples who have so long for their basic civil rights. It’s a victory for their children, whose families will now be recognized as equal to any other. It’s a victory for the allies and friends and supporters who spent years, even decades working and praying for change to come. And this ruling is a victory for America. This decision affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts. When all Americans are treated as equal, we are all more free. - Read more here:

See also this, regarding the reactions on social media, mostly in praise of the ruling and support for the LGBTQ community.

Based on polling results reported earlier this month, public opinion research clearly demonstrates that a growing majority supports the freedom to marry. Likewise, support continues to rise in every state, demographic and community. Support for the freedom to marry for gay couples comes from a diversity of demographics at the state and national levels, including Catholics and Evangelical Millenials. 

An excerpt from the polling report: 

"Supermajority Support: The highest percentage ever of Americans – a 63% supermajority - back the freedom to marry as a constitutional right for gay couples, according to a 2015 CNN/ORC poll."

How did the SC justices vote?

Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, and was joined by the court’s four liberal justices: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.[...] For the first time in his decade as chief justice, Roberts read a dissenting opinion from the bench. His dissent was particularly biting, one that pilloried the majority for what he stated was an unconstitutional, unprecedented “act of will, not legal judgment.” - Read more here:

The other dissenting justices were Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel A. Alito, Jr. 

See also Justice Thomas dissent in which  he invoked the examples of slavery and internment camps.

Note: This article is Part 1 of a three-part series on the SC Ruling on gay marriage. 

DiversityWorking.com, the largest job board online, is a career opportunity resource and job search engine for the cultural diversity marketplace. Through DiversityWorking.com, you can post veteran jobs for your diversity and equal employment opportunity requirements. Visit DiversityWorking.com now.

Dixon White' and His “Racial-Healing Video-Selfie Challenge”

The nation today stands at a critical moment in history when the bitter truth of racism still stares it in the face. With the rising incidence of violence involving mostly unharmed black people – in the hands of whites, attention has also been drawn to the so-called white supremacy.

White supremacy or white supremacism is a form of racism centered upon the belief, and promotion of the belief, that white people are superior in certain characteristics, traits, and attributes to people of other racial backgrounds and that therefore whites should politically, economically and socially rule non-whites.

More about white supremacy here:

In the midst of all these heated discussions on race, racial diversity, as well as racial hatred and the like -- all the more inflamed with the recent mass killings at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, by an alleged white supremacist -- people are either inclined to avoid any reference to race, or talk about how to overcome the spiral of racial violence. And among them is Dixon D. White and his viral “racial-healing video-selfie challenge.”

Who is Dixon White and What is the “Racial-Healing Video-Selfie Challenge” About?

Dixon D. White is the pseudonym of an American YouTube personality, actor, filmmaker and anti-racism activist whose videos discuss racism in the American South. 

In an interview with Root, earlier this year, when his videos first went viral, he explained his motive behind the videos and why he thinks white privilege has even helped him in going viral.

Some excerpts from this interview:

"During my childhood, I went through a lot of suffering and abuse. Even in college, there was a lot of abuse. The reason I suffered was because of prejudice. Once I understood that, it made me open to not being a product of it and not participating in it. I learned through suffering that I was going to fight against racism. I made an oath to myself and God that I would fight against racism and put it behind me."

 "I’m trying to start a movement where we can deal with racism. I want everybody to take their smartphones and simply talk about what’s in their heart racially in regards to addressing white supremacy. Some people have called it the “Dixon Challenge,” but I call it the “Racial-Healing Video-Selfie Challenge.

The response to his challenge was far-reaching. People from all over, from various backgrounds, posted their own videos, often owning up to their own prejudices about different races, discussing how they learned those ideas to begin with, and pledging their effort to be more conscious and to do better.  - Read more here:  

However, there were also reports Dixon D. White's challenge to overcome racism in the hope of attaining racial healing did not sit well with everyone. They really don’t want this guy heard. It’s not about what he is saying because he isn’t saying anything black people have been saying for years. It’s the fact that he would be heard by people black scholars could never reach. - Read more here:

Meanwhile, we invite our readers to this question: What do you think: why, how can a white relate to the blacks' experience, and vice versa?

DiversityWorking.com, the largest job board online, is a career opportunity resource and job search engine for the cultural diversity marketplace. Through DiversityWorking.com, you can optimize your veteran job search for your diversity and equal opportunity employment needs. Visit DiversityWorking.com now.

 

After Charleston Tragedy, Forgiveness Rings Louder

In the aftermath of the Charleston tragedy, as the nation comes to grips with the painful realities of racism and racial hatred, as well as the difficult issue of gun control, calls for forgiveness ring louder than vengeance.

The victims' families were among the first to offer forgiveness to the alleged shooter.

Relatives of the nine people shot down during a Bible study session inside their historic black church confronted the 21-year-old suspect Friday during his initial hearing. They described their pain and anger, but also spoke of love. “I forgive you, my family forgives you,” said Anthony Thompson, whose relative Myra Thompson was killed. “We would like you to take this opportunity to repent. … Do that and you’ll be better off than you are right now.” - Read more here:

Religious and civil rights leaders in metro Detroit likewise expressed “unity” while expressing concerns about the still existing “hate against African-Americans.”

The shooting was one of the worst attacks in a house of worship in the U.S., sparking an intense discussion about race, hatred, and extremism, with local pastors calling for unity across racial and religious lines. - Read more here:

Glenn Beck was also reported to have gone to Charleston. He issued a statement on his Facebook page: “Let us no longer hide our light under bushels. Let us be lamp stands!!!!!” he wrote on Facebook. “Let’s gather tomorrow and show this community that they are loved.

“Something great begins in Charleston. It began last night after a few moments of evil, GOoD rushed in,” he continued. “Let us prop their arms up and pray together for this amazing community.” - See more here:  

The Reverend Al Sharpton while calling the killings as “a new low in hate” and saying “None of us are safe it we cannot go to a church for Bible study,” also offered prayers and headed to Charleston, SC. - Read more here:

DiversityWorking.com, the largest job board online, is a career opportunity resource and job search engine for the cultural diversity marketplace. Through DiversityWorking.com, you can post jobs for veterans who can readily fill your diversity and equal employment opportunity requirements. Visit DiversityWorking.com now.

Tribune Publishing: Established Icon in News and Information

Tribune Publishing, one of the most recent additions to DiversityWorking's list of prestigious diversity company members, is an established icon in news and information with a long history of continuous innovation across all media platform that started from its founding in 1847.

The company thrives on excellence, and proof of this are the more than 90 Pulitzer Prizes its newspapers have garnered, the highest honor given in journalism.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Tribune Publishing believes in providing equal work opportunities to all regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability or any other legally protected classification.

The company is likewise committed to maintaining a workplace that is free from any forms of employee discrimination and harassment; as such, it has "zero tolerance" towards such behavior.

Tribune Publishing offers a diverse range of career opportunities, and is constantly in search of enthusiastic, talented and innovative professionals -- it is the perfect place to grow and advance one's career in reporting, publishing, digital, technology, and sales, among others.

Thus, if you are seeking an exciting job opportunity in the field of journalism and publishing, find more about the company and its career offerings by clicking on this link.

Hobby Lobby Looking for Administrative Assistant, OK, Oklahoma City

Hobby Lobby, the country's leading brand in the arts and craft industry, and among DiversityWorking's elite diversity company members, is looking for a bright, talented and motivated individual to work as Administrative Assistant, OK, Oklahoma City.

Job Overview
- Organize and prioritize a large volume of incoming correspondence
- Maintain information with a high degree of accuracy and discretion

Job Requirements
- Ability to prioritize work flow and meet deadlines
- Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and other data entry programs

Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Holiday pay
- Paid vacation leave
- 401k Program
- Medical and Dental plans, among others

To learn more of the job details and to apply, click on this link.

Hobby Lobby Searching for Staff Accountant, OK, Oklahoma City

Hobby Lobby, the country's leading brand and largest retailer chain of arts, crafts, hobby and home decor items, and among DiversityWorking's list of elite diversity company members, is searching for a confident and professional individual to fill the position of Staff Accountant, OK, Oklahoma City.

Job Overview
- Work with management and provide sales and financial information to multiple departments

Job Requirements 

- Analysis and Reporting

- Daily Review and Analysis of flagged online orders

- Journal entries and account reconciliations

- Financial Statement Reviews, among others

Job Responsibilities 
- Bachelor's Degree in Accounting
- 1-3 years of accounting experience
- Hands-on and with attention to details
- Excellent problem solving skills

Benefits 
- 401k Program
- health and dental insurance
- paid vacation
- employee discount


To see more job details and to apply, click on this link.