This was invented to divide the country into many warring groups, by giving special privileges to some people because they had some characteristics in common with other people. It was done to create solid voting and donation blocks.
It is illegal, unconstitutional, and wrong - no matter how long it has lasted, and no matter what laws are passed to permit it.
Also, it inserted government into an aspect of private morality business where it didn’t belong.
Rules like this ought to be OK for GOVERNMENT SERVICES. Nobody should be rejected from a courthouse, etc. because of being a woman, black, Jewish, etc.
Yes, IMHO the constitution needs to be changed. However the current congress would overturn Second Amendment of Gun rights.
That's the irony... the contradiction and the degeneration of our Constitution.
The original Constitution and the Bill of Rights is paramount and untouchable by executive orders or riders attached to budget bills...
It just takes honest and competent elected legislatures to maintain and protect the hard-fought original intent.