When I wrote an article last year about Hobby Lobby, it resulted in criticism that I was “vilifying” the company and its owner David Green.
Perhaps you agree. Perhaps you are feeling vindicated by the June 30 Supreme Court decision that sided with the company.
But before you go too “holier than thou” on me, how about a reality check rant?
Reports abound about the hypocrisies involved in this ruling. The Supreme Court decision was 5-4, and split along gender lines. Seriously, guys? That was so 1960 of you. Listen up, women of America — if you think sexism isn’t what is used to be, you’re right. This is what it looks like in 2014.
Hobby Lobby’s plan, which denies coverage for emergency contraception and other birth control methods for women, still covers the male condom, erectile dysfunction treatments and vasectomies. Apparently, it’s OK to get an exemption to the Affordable Care Act mandates not only for religious beliefs, but for sexist, discriminatory and hypocritical religious beliefs.
But wait — there’s more! Hobby Lobby has millions and millions of dollars invested in companies that manufacture emergency contraception, that produce components of the dreaded IUD and that produce drugs used in the abortions they have been so pious and vocal about abhorring.
Evidently, the critical reading skills involved in dissecting the Affordable Care Act and Religious Freedom Restoration Act did not extend to awareness and integrity in their financial plan. Looks a lot like greed to me.
At a time when our local Public Health center is in danger of closing due to budget cuts, the fact that at least one local employer is now free to discontinue birth control coverage (and goodness knows what else in the coming weeks) based on the discriminatory religious beliefs of its owners is disturbing.
If you find this troubling, too, here are a few things you can do:
1. Support the Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act, introduced today by our own U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Colorado’s Sen. Mark Udall. Companion legislation is being brought in the House of Representatives.
2. Support organizations who work to protect women’s health in America, like Planned Parenthood and NARAL. Contact Federal Way Reps. Linda Kochmar and Roger Freeman in our state Legislature to tell them how important it is not to close Public Health clinics, especially now.
3. Speak up. Ninety-nine percent of women in our country use birth control at some point in their lives. Imagine what your life might be like — and the lives of your sisters, mothers, wives, aunts and daughters — if access to birth control continues to erode.
Stay tuned. Right now, it looks like we’re headed toward rounding out this action-packed trilogy with Hobby Lobby 3: Price of the Slippery Slope.
Amy Johnson, MSW, is a trainer, educator and coach in the Pacific Northwest. She is co-author of the books, “Parenting by Strengths: A Parent’s Guide for Challenging Situations” and “Homegrown Faith and Justice.” Amy facilitates classes and workshops in the Puget Sound area and online. She specializes in working with parents and in sexuality education. Amy can be reached at comments@diligentjoy.com.
