In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled June 30 that in addition to free speech, corporations also have religious freedom rights under the Constitution, and can refuse to cover birth control in their health insurance plans, thus flouting the Affordable Care Act’s birth control coverage mandate.
What about the religious freedom of workers who do not have a moral objection to birth control? Apparently it is A-OK with the justices for bosses to be empowered to impose their beliefs on female employees. Because after all, once you work for someone, your boss should be allowed to run every aspect of your life all the way down to your reproductive organs (sarcasm).
If a corporation has a moral objection to birth control, the corporation should practice the rhythm method, and employees can make their own decisions.
The arguments against the employer mandate are steeped in misogyny. When this issue first came to the fore nationally, Rush Limbaugh famously called Sandra Fluke a “slut” for advocating universal coverage of birth control. Access to effective (and affordable) birth control is one of the prerequisites for women to participate in society as equals to men. What about our rights? Down with the Supreme Court, a bunch of unelected reactionaries who serve the wealthy!
