Evan Wolfson, the Father of Marriage Equality, and Shannon Minter walk the audience through the early trials and breakthroughs of the Right to Marry campaign. In the process, the courts debate what dignity means legally.
The episode tells the story of Jim Obergefell who fought to have his marriage recognized by Ohio. Obergefell believes his ability to choose matters in his own life and the government's recognition of those choices comprise dignity.
Dignity is a relatively new term becoming prominent only after World War II. For millennia, however, philosophers have considered what makes humans unique and what does it mean to have dignity.
Industrialization and World War II increased calls for the protection of dignity. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights places the responsibility of protecting dignity on governments and the people of the world.
The word "dignity" does not appear in the United States Constitution. American courts have recognized other unenumerated rights. Can dignity be added to this list?
Episode 6:
Crime and Dignity
Coming Soon
Dignity should be an important element of the criminal justice system. Suspects and inmates maintain their dignity. Governments must consider this when investigating, sentencing, and punishing people.