President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that the U.S. military intends to withdraw 5,500 troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2016, leaving 8,400 troops in country to provide local security and tailored support.
South Carolina “Personhood Amendment” Fails to Make it on the Ballot
A South Carolina bill that would have put a referendum for a “personhood amendment” on the ballot in November fell short of the necessary two-thirds votes needed to bring it up for consideration on the Senate agenda before the end of June.
Oakland, California Considering Ordinance to Penalize CPCs for False Advertising
Elected officials in Oakland, California are standing up for women’s health with a proposed ordinance that penalizes the dissemination of untrue or misleading information by crisis pregnancy centers.
Federal Judge Blocks Restrictive Florida Abortion Bill
A federal judge has blocked parts of a new Florida law that aimed to limit access to abortion.
Mississippi Judge Strikes Down Anti-LGBT Law
A federal judge blocked Mississippi law H.B. 1523 hours before it was slated to take effect last week.
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Remarkable Number of Reproductive Rights Victories This Week
A remarkable number of legal victories for reproductive health came down this week.
5 Major Supreme Court Victories for Women this Week
This was a great week for women.
Defense Secretary Carter Lifts Ban on Transgender Service Members
In a historic decision, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced Thursday that the Pentagon is lifting its discriminatory ban on transgender people serving openly in the United States military.
Women Refugees Flee One Form of Violence for Another
The refugee crisis currently taking place across Syria and Europe is a distinct issue concerning the violence and challenges that women face around the globe, as a recent United Nations report found that over 75 percent of Syrian refugees are women or children under the age of 17.
SCOTUS Saves Sole Abortion Clinic in Mississippi
The Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the sole abortion clinic left standing in Mississippi, won a major Supreme Court victory Tuesday after the Court declined to hear Mississippi’s appeal to enforce a state law requiring hospital admitting privileges for doctors performing abortions, similar to the Texas law the Court struck down on Monday.
Afghan Rap Singer, Warrior Against Child Marriage, Awarded
Nineteen year old Afghan rap singer, Sonita Alizadeh, known for protesting child marriage through her songs, was recently depicted in a documentary entitled Sonita, which just won the 2016 World Cinema Documentary Audience Award.
Supreme Court Denies Washington Pharmacists’ Religious Freedom Appeal
In a 5-3 decision, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal in Stormans Inc. v. Wiesman, a case brought by Washington state pharmacists who argued for a right to deny services on grounds of religious objections. A 2007 regulation adopted in the state bound pharmacies to fill lawful prescriptions, with the caveat that individual pharmacists with […]
ACLU Lawsuit Aims to Protect Reproductive Health Access for Undocumented Minors
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit on Friday against the federal Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which claims that the ORR has violated the separation of church and state by providing millions of dollars annually to Catholic Charity organizations that refuse to provide constitutionally […]
Pat Summit, Trailblazer of Women’s Sports, Dies at 64
Pat Summit, former coach for Tennessee’s Lady Vols basketball team and icon of women’s sports, died early on June 28 in Knoxville, TN.
SCOTUS Upholds Strong Domestic Violence Gun Ban Law
The Supreme Court decided 6-2 in Voisine v. United States to affirm protections for victims of domestic violence by preventing individuals convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from owning guns.
Supreme Court Victory for Women Foreshadows Election’s Importance on Abortion Rights
The Supreme Court has issued a historic 5-3 ruling in the case of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, declaring Texas’ HB 2 law unconstitutional, making it the most important Court decision on abortion since Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), the ruling that established the “undue burden” standard. The Texas law required clinics offering abortion services […]
Supreme Court Upholds Tribal Sovereignty in Split Decision
The Supreme Court yesterday affirmed that non-Tribal businesses and individuals can legally face civil suit in Tribal courts.
Obama’s New Plan for Troops Means Continued Hope for Afghan Women
The Obama administration has announced that the United States will continue to support the Afghan National Security Forces through 2020.
Supreme Court Hands Down a Win for Affirmative Action
In a 4-3 decision today, the US Supreme Court upheld a race-conscious admissions policy at the University of Texas, issuing a decisive blow to opponents of affirmative action.
New York City Council Greatly Expands Access to Menstrual Hygiene Products
The New York City Council passed legislation that will provide access to free menstrual hygiene products such as pads and tampons in public schools, homeless shelters, and the city’s correctional facilities.