A Cook County, Illinois, Circuit Court will hear arguments today on a state parental notification law that has been stalled in the state since 1995. In November 2009 the Illinois Medical Disciplinary Board decided that the state parental notification law should go into effect, but briefly thereafter, Judge Daniel Riley granted a temporary restraining order […]
Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) introduced the Women and Workforce Investment for Nontraditional Jobs (Women WIN Jobs) Act late last week. The bill has more than 40 cosponsors and is intended to “promote the economic self-sufficiency of low-income women through their increased participation in high-wage, high-demand occupations where they currently represent 25 […]
The US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a hearing yesterday on the Paycheck Fairness Act and the wage gap. The Paycheck Fairness Act was the first bill, along with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, to be passed by the current House of Representatives. If passed in the Senate and signed […]
An independent panel met at the National Institutes of Health Wednesday to discuss whether vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is a safe or accessible procedure for pregnant US women. The panel consisted of gynecologists, obstetricians and experts in maternal/fetal pain, according to RH Reality Check. They discussed the advantages and risks of both a vaginal […]
A Georgia bill that seeks to criminalize abortions on the basis of race was voted out of the state House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee yesterday on a 7 to 6 vote. According to the Macon.com, the bill now moves to the House Rules Committee, which will determine whether or not the bill will be sent to […]
Connie Saltonstall, a Charlevoix County, Michigan, Commissioner announced yesterday that she will challenge Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI) in the Democratic primary. Stupak’s restrictive anti-abortion amendment to the Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 2962) has played a key roll in stalling healthcare reform. According to the Examiner, Saltonstall has voted for Stupak since 1992, […]
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama awarded 10 honorees with the International Women of Courage Award yesterday at the State Department. Among Clinton’s remarks, she said “we are honoring women from around the world who have endured isolation and intimidation, violence and imprisonment. Many have even risked their lives to advance […]
Please take a moment to send a message to the doctors and staff at clinics around the nation, thanking them for the vital work they do every day.
A Utah bill that criminalizes seeking an illegal abortion or intentionally inducing a miscarriage was signed into law by Governor Gary Herbert (R) Monday. The bill originally criminalized miscarriages caused by women’s intentional or unintentional reckless actions and was withdrawn by its sponsor, State Representative Carl Wimmer (R), for revisions last week after the governor […]
The first women to fly US military aircraft will be awarded with Congressional Gold Medals today on Capitol Hill. The first female aviators flew domestic military aircraft during World War II. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor Congress can give civilians, according to the Associated Press. The Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP, […]
US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan pledged to ensure education equity in a Selma, Alabama, speech Monday. He spoke on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma to commemorate the 45th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” the day in 1965 when hundreds of civil rights protesters were brutally beaten by Alabama state and local police. In his […]
Angelisa Young and Sinjoyla Townsend became the first same sex couple to marry in Washington, DC, this morning. The couple was also first in line to apply for a marriage license last week. Young told the Washington Post, “I am doing this because I love my partner and we deserve to be married…But I am […]
The Indian Parliament’s upper house passed a bill today that would require one-third of all parliamentary seats to be reserved for women. The bill passed on an overwhelming 186 to 62 vote, giving it far more than the minimum two-thirds support it required, according to the Vancouver Sun. A similar bill was blocked by numerous […]
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis were among those in the US government who honored International Women’s Day yesterday. Among her remarks, Michelle Obama said, “We’re here today not just to pay tribute to leaders and icons and household names…we honor the women who traveled those lonely roads […]
On this International Women’s Day, March 8th, Ms. magazine—the flagship feminist publication—launches the Ms. Blog, showcasing the sharp writing and informed opinions of a community of feminist bloggers from around the nation and the globe. The Ms. Blog will be a hub for exchange, collaboration and discussion, introducing fresh perspectives on national and global politics, […]
Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman in history to win an Oscar for Best Director last night for her film, The Hurt Locker. Bigelow said, “I hope I’m the first of many, and of course, I’d love to just think of myself as a filmmaker. And I long for the day when that modifier can […]
Today, on International Women’s Day, Ms magazine launched Ms. blog. The Ms. Blog will be a hub for exchange, collaboration and discussion, introducing fresh perspectives on national and global politics, culture, media, health, law and life. The blog already includes contributors from seven countries, and the overall contributors’ roster ranges from well-known names to up-and-coming […]
The Colorado Secretary of State announced Wednesday that the petition drive to put “personhood” on the state ballot has not gathered enough signatures. Personhood Colorado, the group running the petition drive, now has until March 15 to gather 15,000 more valid signatures, reported the Colorado Independent. The group submitted 79,817 signatures, just 3,770 more than […]
An anti-choice Utah bill that would have criminalized miscarriages caused by women’s unintentional or reckless actions was withdrawn by its sponsor, State Representative Carl Wimmer (R), for revisions yesterday. The bill had passed in the state legislature and was sent to Utah Governor Gary Herbert (R) for his signature last week, but was sent back […]
Walmart and two subsidiaries of American International Group Incorporated (AIG) settled two major discrimination lawsuits this week. The Walmart suit was based on allegations of sex discrimination and the AIG suit was based on evidence of race discrimination. The suit against Walmart was based on sex discrimination at its London, Kentucky, distribution center. According to […]
