Author Archive for Emily Gill

Emily Gill: ‘Cultural decency’ of gender identities

Emily Gill

Transgender Americans are facing unprecedented challenges by society. The Trump administration’s stance against the community has emboldened state legislatures to vent their exclusive impulses on policy. (But) Individuals with fluid gender identities have always existed and always will

Emily Gill: American birthright is under attack

Emily Gill

The government’s case against automatic birthright citizenship stems from a narrow interpretation a Supreme Court case that militates against the inclusiveness that is supposed to be a hallmark of our values. Just as important is the chaos that would be unleashed by a decision supporting the administration.

Emily Gill: Shameful attack on immigration

Emily Gill

Unpalatable policies carried out by the Trump regime are not targeting ‘worst of worst’ criminals.

First, being in the U.S. without proper documentation is not a crime, but a civil offense; second, ICE detaining immigrants with proper paperwork, third, even when participating in the system; and, fourth, these arrests have been brutal

Emily Gill: Refugee status for Afrikaners is deplorable

Emily Gill

When so many others, such as former Afghan allies, are being turned away from the U.S. as refugees even before they are given an opportunity to explain why they deserve that status, the obvious question is why South Africans are different.

Emily Gill: Executive order cannot nix birthright citizenship

Emily Gill

Most undocumented immigrants have been hard-working residents of the U.S. for years. Without Birthright Citizenshiip, their U.S.-born children would become stateless persons, with no rights because no government would be obligated to protect them. As the political philosopher Hannah Arendt wrote, citizenship is ‘the right to have rights.’

Emily Gill: Public displays of the Ten Commandments and religious rights

Emily Gill

A Ten Commandments display is coercive in its effects, as students cannot opt out of viewing it when it will be present in all educational settings throughout their school years; plus the display will constitute only one version of the Ten Commandments, whereas different versions are orthodox to different religious denominations.

Emily Gill: Freedom of speech can also include freedom not to hear it, too

Emily Gill

Does Worker Freedom of Speech Act that Illinois Governor Pritzker signed into law and will take effect on Jan. 1, prevents businesses from sanctioning or punishing employees who decline to attend meetings that put forward the religious or political views of these businesses. Does it adhere to the First Amendment?