Violence Against Women

Judge Who Gave Light Rape Sentence Recalled

Aaron Persky, the judge who sparked national outrage after granting a light jail sentence to Stanford rapist Brock Turner, was recalled by California voters in their June 5 primary. It is very rare for a judge to be recalled: since 1911 when recalls were first legalized, only four attempts have been successful; the last was in 1932.

Labor Rights

Appeals Court Hands Down Major Equal Pay Win

Yesterday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that it is illegal for employers to consider a woman’s previous salary when determining pay for her new job, as it perpetuates pay discrimination between men and women. The groundbreaking decision came the day before the national Equal Pay Day, which marks the point into 2018 […]

LGBTQ

California Lawmakers Pass Bill to Protect Rights of LGBT Seniors

The LGBT Senior Bill of Rights, introduced by California State Senator Scott Wiener, was approved by the California State Assembly on Tuesday and will now move onto the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. SB 219, also referred to as the LGBT Seniors Bill of Rights,  will protect seniors in nursing facilities from discrimination based […]

Health

Maternal Mortality Rates are Rising in the United States

The United States saw a dramatic 27 percent jump in the maternal death rate from 19 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 24 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2014. In 2015, the rate once again went up to 26.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, and it is black women who are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth related incidences than white women.

Uncategorized

Sanctuary Cities Saved by Federal Judge

On Tuesday a District Court judge in San Francisco temporarily blocked President Trump’s January executive order threatening to pull federal funding from sanctuary cities who do not comply with the administration’s mass deportation efforts.

Abortion

Planned Parenthood to Proceed with Federal Lawsuit Against Center for Medical Progress

Last week, in a victory for reproductive rights advocates, a federal judge in California refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood against the so-called Center for Medical Progress (CMP), the anti-abortion group responsible for the discredited videos released last year that falsely accused the women’s healthcare organization of illegally selling fetal tissue.