Ireland became the first country in the world to pass marriage equality through popular vote on Friday.
Maryland Governor Will Not Veto LGBT Rights Bills
The Maryland General Assembly passed SB 743 / HB 862 and SB 416 / HB 838 by wide margins and with bipartisan support on March 24, after which both were sent to the Governor’s desk.
New York Politicians, Advocates, and Activists Have Come Together to Protect Nail Salon Workers
Following a report by the New York Times on the exploitation of nail salon workers almost two weeks ago, New York state and city officials have partnered with advocates and volunteers to bring comprehensive educational programs and labor reforms to the 5,000 licensed salons in the state.
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Senate Votes to Advance “Fast Tracking” of Dangerous Trade Agreement
The US Senate voted yesterday to advance “fast track” trade legislation on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.
Los Angeles May Be The Next City to Raise The Minimum Wage to $15
The Los Angeles City Council voted 14 to 1 on Tuesday to have the City Attorney draft an ordinance that would raise the minimum wage for certain workers to $10.50 an hour effective July 2016, and then gradually to $15 an hour by 2020.
SLUT: The Play Performance in DC Was a Call to Action for Consent Education
Last night, SLUT: The Play, a powerful play about the realities of sexual assault in high schools, was performed for thousands at the Warner Theatre in Washington DC.
New York Attorney General Moves to Expand Access to Contraceptives
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman introduced the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act of 2015 last week to enhance the availability of contraception for New Yorkers.
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Today in Herstory: Man Sentenced to Three Months in Prison For Distributing Contraception
May 19, 1969: In what seemed like a courtroom scene from another era, Bill Baird was sentenced to three months in prison today for distributing a contraceptive device to an unmarried woman.
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Today in Herstory: Jacqueline Cochran Breaks Boundaries in Aviation
May 18, 1953: Jacqueline Cochran has just become the first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound – and that wasn’t the end of her record-breaking day.
The ACLU Takes on Gender Discrimination in Hollywood
The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California filed a complaint last week asking for federal and state civil rights agencies to investigate massive gender discrepancies at all levels of the film and television industry.
House Passes 20-Week Abortion Ban Limiting Access for Rape Survivors
The House passed a 20-week abortion bill yesterday, making it plain that House Republicans feel that denying women access to abortion care is one of their top three priorities.
Members of Congress Renew the Fight for the Equal Rights Amendment
Congresswomen Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) re-introduced the Equal Rights Amendment yesterday in a bipartisan effort to put women in the United States Constitution.
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Today in Herstory: Suffragists Stage Open-Air Rally in Manhattan
May 13, 1909: Clearly not reluctant to venture into hostile territory in search of converts, Edith Bailey, Harriot Stanton Blatch and several other suffragists held a rally today near the church of militant anti-suffragist Rev. Dr. Charles Henry Parkhurst on Manhattan’s Madison Square.
Facebook Just Improved Wages and Benefits for Contracted Employees
Facebook Incorporated Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg announced today that the social media powerhouse will be requiring improved benefits from its contractors, including higher pay, paid leave, and a $4,000 new child benefit.
The House is Voting on a 20-Week Abortion Ban with Burdensome Rape Requirements Today
House Bill 36 is a restrictive 20-week abortion ban that would force rape survivors seeking abortion care to either report the crime or seek medical care or counseling at least 48 hours prior to having an abortion.
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Today in Herstory: Congress Approves the Creation of a Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps
May 12, 1942: Legislation to establish a Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) got final Congressional approval today with a Senate vote of 38 to 27.
Governor Cuomo Issues Emergency Orders to Protect Nail Salon Workers
Cuomo’s actions fall in the wake of a New York Times exposé on the lives of manicurists in New York City detailing 10- to 12-hour shifts, poor conditions, health risks, low wages, and other exploitation.
Pregnant Women Left Vulnerable After Devastating Nepal Earthquake
About 14,000 women are expected to give birth in the coming weeks, and thousands of them are at risk of complications that require emergency care.
Obama Administration Clarifies ACA Birth Control Benefit After Reports of Conflicting Policies
The Obama administration announced yesterday in new guidance to health insurance companies that insurers are obligated to cover all forms of birth control under the Affordable Care Act.
Afghan Girls Win Gold at International Science Competition
Three schoolgirls from Afghanistan won gold in biology at an international science competition hosted in Kenya last week.