Supreme Court could overturn gay rights rulings after abortion decision, local attorneys say

ATLANTA — The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade may not only be about abortion rights, according to some local attorneys and legal observers.

The majority opinion stated that “nothing in this opinion should be understood to cast doubts on precedents that do not concern abortion.” But some local attorneys are skeptical.

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“We should be concerned about what this means for people’s ability to make some of the most foundational fundamental choices about their bodies and about their lives,” said Tanya Washington, a law professor at Georgia State University.

Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a concurring opinion that suggested that the Supreme Court should review rulings that affect contraception access, same-sex relationships and same-sex marriages.

The original Roe decision in 1973 reasoned that the due process clause of the 14th Amendment gave women a right to privacy, which paved the way to legalize abortion.

However, abortion, same-sex relationships and marriages are not mentioned in the Constitution.

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“What they seem to be suggesting is that any right that is not articulated in the Constitution is vulnerable to being treated as not constitutionally protected,” said Washington.

Thomas Barker with Front Runners Atlanta helped put together the annual Atlanta Pride Run and Walk just this month.

“Our fears from a few years ago are coming true,” he said.

After today’s ruling, he began to wonder whether the Supreme Court would take up a case that may affect his relationship with his partner.

“If marriage equality was taken away,” he said, “If I were to get sick, they wouldn’t have any say so.”

Justice Thomas wasn’t speaking for the entire court when he wrote his opinion.

Some observers think today’s ruling is a signal that the court isn’t afraid to overturn precedents.

“I don’t know if I trust the majority when it says this is about abortion and abortion alone,” said Eric Segall, law professor at Georgia State University. “I don’t know if the American people should trust that at all.”

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