This week, Michigan’s new Reproductive Health Act (RHA) took effect. The passing of the legislation, which was signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer last November, comes after Michigan’s success during the 2022 election cycle, where voters passed a historic measure to enshrine the right to reproductive freedom in the state’s constitution. What is RHA? The Reproductive […]
Michigan Women Sue To Repeal Period Tax
Three Michigan women are suing the state’s Treasury Department over taxes on menstrual products, claiming the taxes violates the equal protections clause in both the state and U.S. constitutions. The plaintiffs, represented by menstrual equity group Period Equity, is suing to end the tax and to issue a refund to people who have paid the […]
Michigan Judge Declines to Release Black Girl Detained for Skipping Online Class
A Michigan judge declined on Monday to release a Black teenage girl from juvenile detention for failing to complete her schoolwork after classes transitioned online because of the pandemic. The judge deemed that the 15-year-old, referred to with her middle name Grace, was benefitting from the detention and should not be allowed to return home. […]
Students Have Fundamental Right to Literacy, Appeals Court Says
A federal appeals court ruled on Thursday that students in Detroit have a right to a “basic minimum education” ensuring literacy. Gary B., et al. v. Whitmer, et al. was filed by students on behalf of students in the Detroit Public Schools system. It argued that conditions in the schools had deprived them of a […]
Seven Midwest States Announce Their Plan to Partner on Reopening
On Thursday, governors from seven Midwestern states announced that they will coordinate on reopening the Midwest regional economy. The Midwest pact joins the Northeast and West Coast in an effort to coordinate amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Midwest bipartisan effort includes Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Kentucky. In the governors’ collaboration, they announced […]
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Michigan Will No Longer Fund Religious Based Adoption Agencies
Michigan will no longer fund adoption agencies that refuse to provide services based on religious beliefs. Previously, Michigan was one of nine states that provided funding for adoption agencies who refused service based on religious beliefs. Attorney General Dana Nessell reached the settlement with the ACLU, stating that “discrimination in the provision of foster care […]
Michigan House Renews Telemedicine Abortion Ban
Early Thursday morning, the Michigan statehouse passed a bill renewing the 2012 “telemedicine ban,” which is set to expire at the end of December. Governor Snyder is expected to sign the bill into law before the New Year when newly-elected Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer takes office. The “telemedicine ban” prevents doctors from prescribing an abortion-inducing […]
Judge Rules US Ban on Female Genital Mutilation Unconstitutional
This week a judge ruled that the U.S. federal female genital mutilation law is unconstitutional, dismissing charges against a Michigan doctor accused of performing female genital mutilation on at least nine young girls between the ages of 8 and 13. Dr. Jumana Nagarwala was charged with performing female genital mutilation at least nine times from […]
Women Win Across the Country in 2018 Midterms
Women won more seats in Congress yesterday than ever before, with over 110 women elected, including the first Muslim women, first Native American women, and two women in their twenties. The women who were elected include the former Teacher of the Year, small business owners, former military helicopter pilots, activists, a former CIA officer, and […]
On the Ballot: Protecting and Promoting Voting Rights in Michigan
Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) student organizers across Michigan are working on six college campuses to turnout the vote in favor of Propositions 2 and 3, two ballot measures that would help promote and protect statewide voting rights. “At their core, Propositions 2 and 3 are about equal representation and access. Both will promote racial and […]
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Flint Residents Will No Longer Receive Free Bottled Water
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder announced late last week that the state would no longer be supplying residents of Flint with free bottled water, despite the fact that Flint is still suffering from dangerously high levels of lead in their tap water.
Congress Passes Bill to Protect Young Athletes from Sexual Abuse
Last week, the House and Senate passed the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act that makes it mandatory for sports organizations to report the sexual abuse of athletes to law enforcement or social services within 24 hours. The bill is now waiting to be signed into law by the President.
Abortion Clinics in 3 Cities Invaded by Anti-Abortion Extremists
Anti-abortion extremists invaded three reproductive health clinics in Sterling Heights, Michigan; Alexandria, Virginia; and Albuquerque, New Mexico on Friday September 15, by entering the facilities and refusing to leave.
Officials Charged with Manslaughter over Flint Water Crisis
Nick Lyon, the head of the Michigan state health department, and four other high-ranking Michigan officials were charged by the Michigan attorney-general with involuntary manslaughter on Wednesday for their failure to maintain a safe water supply in Flint, Michigan.
Betsy DeVos: An Ominous Choice for Secretary of Education
Billionaire philanthropist and former chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party, Betsy DeVos, has been nominated by Donald Trump for Secretary of Education.
ACLU Sues Catholic Hospital for Putting Religion over Medical Care
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services against a Michigan Catholic hospital for refusing to perform a postpartum tubal ligation on a pregnant brain cancer patient, a violation of the nondiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Testing Detroit’s Backlogged Rape Kits Has Already Identified 188 Serial Rapists
The testing has also produced over 750 DNA matches to an FBI database. The Wayne County prosecutor’s office has so far issued warrants for 23 alleged rapists, convicted 14 of them, and three are awaiting trial.
Michigan House Passes “License to Discriminate” Bill
The Michigan House last week voted to pass a bill that gives service providers the right to deny service to anyone who does not adhere to their religious beliefs.
Sixth Circuit Ruling on Gay Marriage Bans Could Send Marriage Equality to the Supreme Court
This Sixth Circuit has changed the legal landscape, becoming the first federal Court of Appeals to uphold a ban since the US Supreme Court decided US v. Windsor.
Civil Rights Lawsuit for Transgender Workers Is First of its Kind
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has brought two lawsuits on behalf of transgender worker, marking the first time the federal government has sued to protect transgender rights under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
