Counter Narrative Project weighs in on Supreme Court LGBTQ+ rights case

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON

All the good and hard work that’s been put in over the last few years is slowly, but surely unraveling before our eyes.

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, which guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion.

On June 29, the justices struck down affirmative action, where they declared that race cannot be a factor in admissions. Colleges and admissions can no longer consider an applicant’s race as one of many factors in deciding who to admit. Also, President Joe Biden’s administration plan to forgive student loans was rejected.

303 Creative LLC v. Elenis

In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado Christian web designer, Lorie Smith, who wanted to refuse to create websites to celebrate same-sex weddings out of religious objections.

According to the justices, Lorie sought to expand her business into the area of weddings and wrote a webpage explaining why she won’t create websites for same-sex couples. However, under a Colorado public accommodations law, she said she cannot post the statement because the state considers it illegal.

During the case, the justices said the First Amendment’s free speech protections permitted Smith to do this.

Ultimately, the ruling will pierce state public accommodation laws for those businesses who sell “expressive” goods.

These are monumental rulings that directly affect people of color, queer folks, prospective students and the 43 million Americans who would have had some relief from their student debt, leaving many devastated and fearful for the future.

The Counter Narrative Project and why you should care?

Charles Stephens, executive director of Atlanta’s Counter Narrative Project (CNP), spoke to v to weigh in on the Supreme Court’s ruling, and how it will affect the future of the LGBTQ+ community.

CNP’s mission is to shift narratives about Black gay, bisexual, queer, and other men who have sex with men to change policy and improve lives.

“I’ve been very concerned about the recent Supreme Court rulings regarding LGBTQ+ rights, and affirmative action, student loan debt, and reproductive justice,” Stephens said. “I worry that the years and years of progress made, of battles fought and won, are being ripped away from us. It’s disheartening to see our protections in danger. I think we are all struggling to make sense of what's happening, even as we strategize a response.”

CNP also said autonomously and through their various coalitions, they are having various conversations and actively working to engage this political moment through sharing information, convening advocates, and providing public education about LBGTQ+ and racial justice.

“We will continue to offer training through our Narrative Leadership Lab and Narrative Justice Fellowship,” Stephens said. “We will continue to partner with media organizations committed to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities through our Media Roundtable. And CNP will continue to create original content through our digital publication, The Reckoning, which empowers our community to be the authors of their own narratives.”

How does this affect the LGBTQ+ community in Atlanta?

CNP believes, Stephens said, bad narratives lead to bad policies.

“Before a single piece of legislation is passed, the justification of its existence is often rooted in a narrative. We must monitor very closely how the policies crafted, laws passed, and rulings made, will impact culture,” he said. “Historically, there are too many examples to count, of how a false narrative, the culmination of poisonous lies, can justify not only discrimination and oppression, but violence and death. I’m concerned that these shifts in the law, the turning back of progress, will strengthen stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities.”

Additionally, Stephens said those in the South, including Georgia, are paying “very close” attention to the implications of the Supreme Court ruling, around LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive justice, and affirmative action.

“I’m worried that these acts will disempower us, cast doubt, and create despair,” he said. “I’m also worried that the fragile coalitions that have been forged around support and solidarity will fracture, as there are forces that seek to rip us apart. As James Baldwin wrote in his 1970 open letter to Angela Davis, “if they take you in the morning, they will be coming for us that night.”

For Atlanta specifically, Stephens said, due to the state, region we live in, and the challenges marginalized communities experience in the Georgia capital, Atlantans may find themselves uniquely vulnerable to this rising conservative regime.

“However, there is a rich culture of resistance and social justice in the South, as part of our movement's history, that we may need to take inspiration from, and extract lessons, to shape how we respond,” he said. “Though I’m disgusted by the history of discrimination in Georgia, and across this country, I’m uplifted by the history of the resistance. Atlanta represents so much for Black LGBTQ+ people. In many ways, I think how we respond to this moment, how we resist, might become inspiration, if not a blueprint for others.”

Staying Aware & How to Help

CNP strives to provide true and factual narratives about the LGBTQ+ community while spreading positivity. Stephens said the importance of staying aware, your human rights, and voting is critical.

“One of the greatest threats to democracy is the proliferation of misinformation and false narratives. Those of us that work in narrative strategy, that work in culture, find ourselves at this very moment, on the front lines of not only protecting the communities we love and serve, but also protecting democracy. I would encourage everyone to not only remain aware of what’s happening to question everything, and not surrender to despair,” he said.

From here, Stephens said, we continue to fight, strategize, and to learn.

“Find a political home that affirms you. Tell your story. Be a witness. Stand in truth. To quote the poet Essex Hemphill: “Let us not accept partial justice. If we believe our lives are priceless, we can’t be conquered,” he said.

Also, Stephens said the most important thing communities in Atlanta can do to remain aware, safe, and continue to make positive change is both continue to educate themselves on the political moment and find joy and peace where they can.

“We must not internalize the violence being done to us,” he said. “We must find the strength to not only be resilient but have joy. There is an incredible social justice movement in Atlanta, and many opportunities to find a political home. Let us remember that Atlanta has always been a center for civil rights strategy and innovation, and I think we will continue to be, especially in these troubling times.”

Furthermore, Stephens said, CNP is committed to advancing Black LGBTQ+ acceptance.

“We welcome allies that would like to support us in strengthening our impact and shifting narratives,” he said.

For more information on CNP and their mission, visit https://www.thecounternarrative.org. To view more information about your local policies, visit https://www.usa. gov/local-governments.