Earlier this week, the Department of Education (DOE) released new guidance on how to assist pregnant and parenting students in their academic career. The guidelines, in the form of a Dear Colleague letter and accompanying pamphlet, details how schools should handle the needs of pregnant and parenting students in accordance with Title IX. In the […]
Senate Passes Immigration Reform, House Will Not Consider
On Thursday, the United States Senate passed an overhaul to the immigration system with bipartisan support. The piece of legislation includes a pathway to citizenship, but also requires militarization of the US-Mexico border. 68 senators – 54 Democrats and 14 Republicans – voted to approve immigration reform based on the proposal of the bipartisan “Gang […]
Ohio Budget Includes Severe Anti-Abortion Provisions, Heads to Governor
Yesterday the Ohio state legislature passed a $62 billion budget that includes multiple anti-abortion provisions that could all but eliminate abortion access in the state. The budget strips $2 million in family planning funds from Planned Parenthood. The budget then redirects family planning funds toward deceptive crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs). CPCs are often owned and […]
Remembering The 40th Anniversary of the Upstairs Lounge Massacre
The movement for LGBT equality is about more than marriage. It’s about the ability to exist in the world without being burned alive.
It’s National HIV Testing Day! Find A Center and Get Tested.
Getting tested and learning more about HIV can prevent others from becoming infected. Knowing the results can save your own life.
Dorothy Jonas, Feminist Majority Foundation Board Member, Feminist Champion, Remembered
One of the founding board members of the Feminist Majority Foundation in 1987, longtime feminist activist Dorothy Jonas died on June 22 (1921 – 2013).
Rick Perry Calls Second Special Session on Abortion Restrictions
After a marathon filibuster to defeat an extreme anti-abortion bill, Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) has called a second special session in an attempt to pass the anti-choice legislation of Senate Bill 5.
Vatican Creates New Committee to Oversee Bank Corruption
On Wednesday, Pope Francis announced the creation of a new committee that will be responsible for overseeing the activities of the Vatican Bank in response to allegations of money laundering and corruption. The bank, known officially as the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR), has been plagued with scandals of money laundering and tax evasion. […]
UN Passes Resolution to Address Rights for Those Affected by Rape as a War Tactic
On Monday, the United Nations passed a resolution to address the use of rape as a war tactic and establish the rights of victims of war-time rape to include comprehensive sexual and reproductive health. UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon addressed the Security Council before the debate, “Sexual violence, whenever and wherever it occurs, is a vile […]
Supreme Court Rules In Favor Marriage Equality
Today the Supreme Court handed down two decisions affirming marriage rights for same-sex couples in the cases of US v Windsor and Hollingsworth v Perry.
Texas Anti-Abortion Law Defeated In Filibuster
Texas state Senator Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) successfully blocked an extreme anti-abortion measure from coming to a vote by filibustering the bill for over 10 hours until the end of the special congressional session.
Why The Voting Rights Act Still Matters: 16 Recent Examples of Voter Suppression and Discrimination
Attempts at voter suppression from the recent past attest to the idea that discrimination remains incredibly rampant and is often best stopped with federal intervention.
Gay Marriage and the Journey to Justice: Updates from the Supreme Court
Today is the big day—our lovely U.S. Supreme Court stood with LGBT people on the right side of history.
SCOTUS Decision Breakdown: On Affirmative Action and Workplace Harassment
So much SCOTUS, so little time. Here’s our take on two of the high court’s decisions from Monday.
Supreme Court To Determine Constitutionality of MA Buffer Zone
On Monday, the Supreme Court announced that it will hear a case deciding the legality of a 2007 Massachusetts law that created a 35-foot ‘buffer zone’ around abortion clinics preventing anti-abortion protesters from entering said buffer zone. In January of this year, the 1st US. District Court of Appeals determined that a 2007 law establishing […]
Supreme Court Rejects Statute of Voting Rights Act
Today the Supreme Court ruled that a statute requiring preclearance for changing voting guidelines is unconstitutional. In a five to four decision with the opinion written [PDF] by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Supreme Court ruled that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which determines which districts have to submit changes in their […]
Supreme Court Sends Affirmative Action Case Back to Appeals Court
Today the Supreme Court issued an opinion in the case on the affirmative action program at the University of Texas at Austin campus, deciding to send the case back to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for further scrutiny in a seven to one decision.
Six Year Old Transgender Student Wins Right to Use Preferred Bathroom
The Colorado Civil Rights Division has determined that an elementary school cannot bar a transgender student from using their preferred bathroom.
Pakistani Actress Attacked with Acid
An 18 year old actress in Pakistan is in critical condition after being attacked with acid for refusing a marriage proposal. The actress, known as Bushra Waiz, was sleeping with her family when a man climbed the wall around their home and threw acid on her while she slept. She was rushed to Lady Reading […]
A Man Who Will Choke You in Public: What Scares Me About Nigella Lawson’s Abuse
If it can happen to Nigella Lawson, it can happen to anyone. This is anything but a private matter.