Even as the Court decided that closely-held corporations could have religious rights protected by the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), the conservative majority minimized not only the importance of women’s health but also the goal of women’s equality.
Anti-Choice Group Asks SCOTUS to Review New York City’s CPC Regulations
The New York City law immediately became a target after it passed in 2011.
Mississippi Personhood Initiative Fails
A campaign to put a “personhood” initiative on Mississippi’s November 2015 ballot failed last week after the initiative’s organizers – Personhood Mississippi – did not turn in petitions with the required number of signatures on time. The measure, known as Initiative 41, proposed to amend the Mississippi state constitution to create an “inalienable right to life” beginning […]
Advocates Push NYPD for More Reform Following Recent Condom Seizure Policy Revision
The NYPD will stop its practice of confiscating condoms from suspected sex workers to be used as evidence of prostitution.
April 23, 1963: Major National Endorsement Shifts Dialogue on Birth Control and Contraception
A major advance today in the fight for birth control, as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists officially endorsed giving contraceptive information to those who request it.
Majority of Americans Approve of Obamacare Contraception Mandate
53 percent of the 1,000 adults surveyed by telephone said that they believe employers should be required to include contraception coverage in workers’ health plans even if the employers oppose its use.
Court Rules Against Notre Dame’s Contraception Mandate Appeal
“If the government is entitled to require that female contraceptives be provided to women free of charge, we have trouble understanding how signing the form that declares Notre Dame’s authorized refusal to pay for contraceptives for its students or staff, and mailing the authorization document to those companies, which under federal law are obligated to pick up the tab, could be thought to ‘trigger’ the provision of female contraceptives.”
Millions of Women Have ACA Contraceptive Coverage, But Not The Employees of Little Sisters
Let’s be clear: the substantial burden of being exempt from ACA regulations is not on the Little Sisters but is squarely on the shoulders of its low- and middle-income nursing home employees, mostly women, and their families.
Study Finds Pharmacists Misinform Teens Seeking Plan B
Pharmacists often give teens misleading information about emergency contraception that may prevent them from obtaining it, according to a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health. After pediatrician Dr. Tracy Wilkinson, the lead study author, heard strange information from her teenage patients about emergency contraception, she decided to investigate. She and several researchers called over […]
Report Shows Strong Global Commitment to Family Planning
“Together, so much has already been achieved, and the incredibly positive spirit expressed during this conference convinces me that we can do so much more.”
Report Encourages Increased Access to Condoms for Adolescents
The report insists that free or low-cost condoms should be available in locations easily accessible for adolescents – such as schools, pediatricians’ offices, and even malls.
IHS Expands Plan B Access for Native American Women
Indian Health Services will now provide emergency contraception without a consultation or prescription at its federally-operated facilities.
US Federal Appeals Court Rules For-Profit Must Cover Contraception
“Nearly every woman uses contraception at some point in her life. This law ensures that employers do not discriminate against their workers by making it difficult for them to obtain the care they need.”
Birth Control Access Brings US Teen Birth Rate to All-Time Low
In a landscape where the median age for women to first have sex has decreased since 1988, it is likely that the lower rate of teen births is heavily shaped by birth control access and information.
Judges Blocks Law Restricting OTC Emergency Contraception
On Monday, a state court temporarily blocked an Oklahoma law that would require persons 17 years or younger to have a prescription to access emergency contraception and require proof of age before purchasing the medication.
More than Abortion: What We Lose When Clinics Shut Down
Make no mistake: though headlines focus narrowly on only the abortion care provided at these clinics, the regulation of health centers means we’re losing much more than one procedure.
Leading Reproductive Rights Organizations Join Together for “31 Days of Unity”
Center for Reproductive Rights joins with reproductive rights, health, and justice organizations in August to urge Congress to take action against extreme attacks on women’s health.
Hobby Lobby Win Injunction Against Birth Control Mandate
After receiving a temporary injunction from US District Judge Joe Heaton last week, Hobby Lobby will now be exempted from the Affordable Care Act stipulation that requires employer-based insurance plans to cover various birth control methods at no extra cost to employees until October 1, 2013.
Texas Passes Anti-Abortion Law, Confiscates Tampons
The Texas state Senate passed an anti-abortion law that threatens to close all but five clinics in the state and has garnered national attention in a vote of 19 to 11 on Friday.
Roundtable: Our Experiences Buying Plan B
“I also bought some Advil and a Dr. Pepper. Made my flight. It should always be that simple.”