Las Vegas Urban League statement regarding
the United States Supreme Court ruling: Burwell v. Hobby Lobby
In a 5-4 ruling on Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that requiring family-owned corporations to pay for insurance coverage for contraception under the Affordable Care Act violated a federal law protecting religious freedom.
These rulings will no doubt have a broader impact on families across America struggling to make their economics meet or exceed the poverty line.
The Las Vegas Urban League sees first-hand the struggle of hard working parents; Americans striving to improve their conditions in order to raise their families.
Having access to affordable, safe contraceptive options is vital to our community. It’s important to understand that providing contraception options to employees isn’t exclusively about birth control, it’s also about healthcare choices between a woman and her doctor. Although covering FDA approved healthcare options may incur some costs to corporations, it will in fact cost more to the individuals who no longer have the option to make intellectual, personal and financial choices regarding their own well-being.
Fundamentally this is not simply a moral issue, but one of individual rights. When a company grows and prospers from serving a large diverse population it inevitably weaves itself into the fabric of America. With that growth comes a greater responsibility to fully participate in the democracy this country was founded on.
We cannot ignore that this ruling declares that for-profit companies can impose their religious beliefs on their employees, and as a CEO I don’t believe any company participating in a capitalist economy should be in the business of dictating any matters determined by a woman and her doctor.
The hallmark of this great democracy is the importance we place on the rights of all. It is imperative that our country not marginalize or impose the spiritual beliefs of a few upon any specific group that doesn’t subscribe to their doctrine.
The issue is complicated but the movement towards progress continues. –Kevin E. Hooks, president and CEO Las Vegas Urban League
