TL;DR
- The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case challenging the use of race in creating voting districts.
- Louisiana added a second Black-majority congressional district; conservatives are crying foul.
- This could dismantle key protections in the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
- The court’s conservative majority raises alarm for civil rights advocates.
- The LGBTQ community sees this as a warning shot—minority protections may be next.
High Stakes at SCOTUS: Black Voters and the LGBTQ Community on Alert
The U.S. Supreme Court is revving up for a case that could bulldoze what’s left of the Voting Rights Act—and, honey, it’s not looking cute. In a one-page tease, the Court said it would hear a challenge to Louisiana’s electoral map, which dared to gasp add a second Black-majority congressional district in a state where Black folks make up nearly one-third of the population. Yes, just two out of six. And apparently, that’s too many for some.
The Republican-led state tried to defend the map by claiming it wasn’t about race, but rather about checks notes protecting incumbents like Speaker Mike Johnson. But a lower court didn’t buy it, calling out the racial motivations behind the redrawn lines and siding with civil rights groups who fought for fairer representation. Now SCOTUS, stacked 6-3 with conservatives, is taking a hard look at whether this push for racial equity violates the Constitution’s equal protection clause.
We’ve seen this movie before—and spoiler alert—it doesn’t end well for marginalized communities. In 2013, the Supreme Court already axed one major section of the Voting Rights Act in the Shelby County case. That decision gutted preclearance rules designed to stop racially biased voting laws before they could wreak havoc. This time, the Court might go even further, essentially asking: “Is the Constitution colorblind—or just blind to racism?”
Rick Hasen, a top election law scholar, didn’t mince words, calling the move “dangerous” and a threat to the very core of the Voting Rights Act. He’s not alone. Civil rights activists and minority communities are already bracing for another judicial gut punch.
When Black Power Is Under Attack, So Is LGBTQ Progress
Let’s not beat around the bush: attacks on Black voting power are part of a broader campaign against all forms of inclusion—diversity, equity, and yes, LGBTQ rights too. The Louisiana map case comes at a time when former President Donald Trump and his allies are laser-focused on dismantling DEI programs that promote opportunities for women, people of color, queer folks, and anyone who doesn’t look like them.
Why does this matter to the LGBTQ community? Because once the judiciary starts slashing protections for one marginalized group, others are often next on the chopping block. If race-conscious districting is deemed unconstitutional, it’s not a stretch to imagine similar arguments being used to roll back policies protecting LGBTQ rights in schools, workplaces, and beyond.
And let’s be real: Black queer voters, who live at the intersection of these identities, are the ones most at risk here. “The system is failing us,” said one civil rights advocate. “They want to erase our votes, our voices, our lives.”
What’s Next?
Arguments in the case will be heard in the Court’s next term starting this October, with a ruling expected by June 2026. Until then, the current map with two Black-majority districts will stand for the 2024 elections, thanks to an earlier SCOTUS decision.
But don’t pop the champagne just yet. With a conservative majority eager to reinterpret decades-old civil rights laws through their own lens, the future of minority voting power—and by extension, LGBTQ equality—hangs in the balance.
If the Court guts this provision, it won’t just redraw the map in Louisiana. It could redraw the entire blueprint for minority representation in America.
So buckle up, babes. Democracy’s drag race just hit a new twist. And this runway? It’s steep, slippery, and stacked against us.