Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of the Philadelphia diocese, which has been the center of a major sex abuse scandal. Rigali handed in his resignation on his 75th as is customary in the Catholic Church. It is not clear whether the abuse allegations played a role in Pope […]
Yesterday, President Obama announced his support for the repeal of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA defines marriage as between one man and one woman and denies federal recognition of same-sex marriages, as well as the legal benefits attached to marriage, including Social Security survivors’ benefits, family and medical leave, and immigration rights. […]
House Bill 78, which will limit women’s access to late-term abortions in the state, has passed the state legislature and will now go to Ohio Governor John Kasich (R), who is likely to sign the bill. House Bill 78 will restrict abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy unless a doctor determines the fetus is […]
The rate of Cesarean sections in the US is rising quickly and is prompting concern among health professionals. In 2009, 34 percent of pregnancies ended in a c-section, compared to 27 percent in 2002, a study by the independent health care ratings organization Healthgrade found. The rise is “quite dramatic,” said Dr. Alan Fleischman, medical […]
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations released today for well-woman care are historic and the result of years of advocacy and persistent work of the women’s health movement, the improved status of women, and the leadership of the Obama Administration. These guidelines, if adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will increase […]
Ohio state Representative Robert Mecklenborg announced Sunday that he is resigning after news of a drunk driving charge became public. Rep. Mechlenborg, chairman of the House Government and Elections Committee and sponsor of a controversial bill requiring voters to show a valid photo ID to register, was arrested in Indiana last April for allegedly driving […]
A Tea Party convention and straw poll scheduled for late September in Kansas has been called off amid sluggish enrollment and allegations of infighting. On the event’s website, Freedom Jamboree chair William Temple accused local groups of a “preoccupation with prospering their own organizations at the expense of the ‘grassroots’ movement as a whole” and […]
On Thursday, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon (D-MO) said he will allow two bills that restrict late-term abortions to pass and become a law without his signature. House Bill 213 and Senate Bill 65 passed the general assembly with overwhelming majorities. Missouri had already banned abortions except to preserve the life or health of the woman, […]
Yesterday California Governor Jerry Brown (D) signed the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act into law, which will require that school curricula and textbooks include information about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans. Governor Brown stated that the law “revises existing laws that prohibit discrimination in education and ensures that the important contributions […]
On Tuesday, Democrats won all six of their primaries in Wisconsin’s recall elections after facing an unusual challenge from party-switching Republicans. The Republicans ran so-called “Fake Democrats” in order to force a primary, delaying the recall vote by a month and giving their real candidates more time to appeal to constituents. Five of the six […]
A law designed to expose fake crisis pregnancy clinics has been put on hold in New York City. US District Judge William H. Pauley III on Wednesday imposed a preliminary injunction on the law, which would require facilities to tell patients whether they provide emergency contraception or abortion services and whether they have health professionals […]
Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo announced that priests, parochial school administrators, and parishes in the Catholic diocese may no longer hold fundraising events for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Bishop Blair expressed his concerns that although the breast cancer awareness group does not currently fund embryonic stem-cell research, it might in the future. Bishop Blair […]
New Hampshire’s Executive Council, comprised of five Republicans, indicated that it will meet again to reconsider its previous decision to defund Planned Parenthood. On June 22, New Hampshire’s Executive Council voted 3-2 to block funding for Planned Parenthood clinics, cancelling the state’s contract the organization and denying Planned Parenthood $1.8 million in state funding. Additionally, […]
People are always shocked to learn how widespread and easily available mobile technology is in “developing nations” like Bangladesh, Kenya, and Afghanistan. When my husband visited my city of birth, Dhaka, last year he could not believe how many people had cell phones in a country where more than half of the population cannot access […]
In a special election yesterday for California’s 36th Congressional district, Democrat Janice Hahn defeated Republican Craig Huey by 54.6 percent to 45.4 percent. Hahn, a Los Angeles city councilwoman, is a firm supporter of women’s reproductive rights, fair pay, and equal education. Hahn also supports preserving Social Security and promoting green technology and jobs. Representative […]
At the San Bernardino Valley College campus yesterday, seven undocumented students were arrested for unlawful assembly and blocking traffic while protesting immigration policies. In total, approximately 125 people from across California gathered in total, carrying signs and chanting. Isaac Barrera, one of the arrested students stated, “we chose this campus because we keep hearing of […]
A Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report showed a large gap in outcomes between African American and white women in almost every aspect of reproductive health, including higher rates of preterm delivery, infant mortality, and maternal deaths among African American women. The report suggests that race is the strongest predictor of disparities in […]
In honor of World Population Day yesterday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released a statement highlighting the importance of promoting reproductive healthcare for women. Clinton stated, “Programs that promote increased access to reproductive health care for women and girls in particular can lead the way to a healthier future for all. Investing in women and […]
I will never forget the day in 1981 that I asked Betty Ford to be an honorary co-chair with Alan Alda of the Equal Rights Amendment Countdown Campaign. I thought it would be a long, involved process. But she said almost immediately that she would be honored to do so. At the time Betty Ford, […]
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), and The Southern Poverty Law Center, joined by a coalition of other civil and human rights groups, recently filed a lawsuit against an Alabama anti-immigration law, scheduled to take effect in September. The law requires that state law enforcement officials “stop, question, and […]
