A 15-year-old Pakistani girl named Anusha was the victim of an “honor killing” last week at the hands of her parents. The specifics of what happened are uncertain, however reports indicate that Anusha died after her parents poured acid on her for turning to look at a boy or boys. It was reported that she […]
Pro-choice forces, led by Planned Parenthood and a coalition of women’s groups including National Organization for Women and Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF), overwhelmingly defeated state constitutional Amendment 6 proposed by the Republican-controlled state legislature. FMF campus organizers, Sarah Shanks, Francesca Witcher, Kari Ross, and Jacky Oppler, led a statewide college campus drive to defeat the […]
On Tuesday, November 7th 2012 the United States of America reelected President Barack Obama, while the Democrats and Republics held on to their control of the Senate and the House, respectively. Historic victories and milestones in this year’s election results include: -President Barack Obama won re-election with 55% of women’s votes and 45% of men’s […]
President Barack Obama won re-election with 55% of women’s votes and 45% of men’s votes for a decisive and historic 10% gender gap, according to CNN exit polls. This is the second largest gender gap in Presidential voting recorded by exit polls, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. The largest was in […]
Yesterday, voters in Maine, Washington, and Maryland voted to legalize same-sex marriage, and voters in in Minnesota rejected a constitutional amendment that would have defined marriage as between one man and one woman. Same sex marriage is already legal in six states and the District of Columbia via legislative action. However, the issue of marriage […]
The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in a case that challenges Arizona’s ban of abortion at 20 weeks today. The legal issue under consideration is “whether the ban effectively prohibits abortions before viability, which would be barred by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision, or is merely a […]
In Malawi, a law against homosexuality has been suspended and the police have been ordered to stop arresting gay people pending a decision by parliament as to whether to repeal the law. Repeal of the criminalization of homosexuality will face public debate and a parliamentary vote. In an explanation of the suspension of the law […]
After a federal appeals court rejected Planned Parenthood’s challenge to a ban on government funding for the state’s women’s health clinics on Friday, Planned Parenthood immediately filed another lawsuit contesting the ban. In the new lawsuit, Planned Parenthood argues that the “Affiliate Ban Rule” is illegal on the grounds that the appeals court ruling has […]
Ohio high school students faced disciplinary action early this week for wearing t-shirts that featured messages supporting LGBTQ equality. Last week, while celebrating “twin day” at Celina High School, two students came dressed in “Lesbian 1” and “Lesbian 2” T-shirts, but were forced to remove them. In solidarity, Tuesday, twenty additional students came to school […]
Next Tuesday, Floridians will cast votes on Amendment 6, a state constitutional amendment that could endanger women’s health and interfere with a woman’s decision as to whether or not to end a pregnancy. This is why women’s advocates are urging voters to VOTE NO ON 6. Amendment 6 is dangerous because it could: – Ban […]
The US Supreme Court refused to hear a case on Monday brought on by the anti-abortion group Personhood Oklahoma, rejecting its attempt to challenge the Oklahoma court’s ruling against a proposed Personhood ballot measure in the state. The “personhood” amendment, which has also appeared (and was subsequently defeated) in states like Colorado and Mississippi, defines […]
Yesterday, President Obama’s campaign released three statements announcing his endorsement of state ballot initiatives to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland, Washington, and Maine. In April the President also spoke out against the measure in Minnesota, which would change the state’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage, even though Minnesota already has a law against same-sex marriage. […]
A Texas federal appeals court rejected Planned Parenthood’s challenge to a ban on government funding for the state’s women’s health clinics. A court had ruled in August to withhold all funding to Planned Parenthood and other women’s health clinics in the state that also provide abortions. Payments were provided under the state’s Women’s Health Program, […]
Yesterday, a father was stabbed outside a Grant Pass, Oregon, Planned Parenthood clinic after a dispute erupted between his daughter and an anti-choice protestor. According to the police report, the situation began after the daughter, Kailah Clair, kicked a protest sign outside the Planned Parenthood clinic. The protestor, Christopher Tolhurst, responded by pushing the girl. […]
During a debate on Tuesday night, Indiana GOP Senate candidate Richard Mourdock said that women who have been raped should be required to carry resulting pregnancies to term because the pregnancy is “a gift from God” that “God intended to happen.” His statement in full [VIDEO]: “I believe life begins at conception. The only exception […]
Yesterday, a Federal Court of Appeals ruled that Planned Parenthood could not be denied government funding under Medicaid regardless of whether or not the organization has clinics that offer abortions. In the ruling, U.S. Circuit Judge Diane Sykes wrote, “The defunding law excludes Planned Parenthood from Medicaid for a reason unrelated to its fitness to […]
In the weeks leading up to Election Day, we will be outlining state ballot initiatives and referenda of major significance to women. Since the spring of 2010, when Arizona enacted S.B. 1070 (the harshest immigration law in the country), lawmakers and immigrant rights advocates have worked both to weaken the controversial law and to ensure […]
Last Friday, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction that blocks an Arizona law prohibiting federal funding, through Medicaid, for health providers who also perform abortions. The request was granted to Planned Parenthood since the District Court Judge Neil Wake “said the organization was likely to succeed on the merits of its case”. In a […]
Reproductive rights groups are partnering up for the ‘Educate Congress’ initiative, which will send a copy of Our Bodies, Ourselves to every congressional office. The action is designed to educate congressional representatives on how women’s bodies work. Our Bodies, Ourselves was originally published in 1971 by the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective and is currently […]
Missouri Senate candidate and current Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) recently compared his opponent Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) to a dog in remarks he made at a campaign fundraiser. “She goes to Washington, D.C., it’s a little bit like one of those dogs, you know ‘fetch,’” Akin said. “She goes to Washington, D.C., and get all […]
