Bishop Harry Jackson filed a lawsuit against the Washington, DC Board of Elections and Ethics Wednesday, in an attempt to force a ballot initiative on same-sex marriage in the District. The Board rejected the initiative proposal Tuesday citing that it is discriminatory and would therefore violate the city’s Human Right’s Act, according to the Washington […]
The United Nation’s Population Fund (UNFPA) released a report Wednesday that indicates women, especially poor women living in developing countries, are more susceptible to the negative effects of climate change. The report also identified that increased contraceptive access, increased participation of women in policymaking, and increased civil rights could help alleviate the affects of climate […]
“Our medical experts have determined that your life was not in danger and you could have carried the pregnancy to term. And, by the way, you owe us $9,000.”
It was the ponytail pull seen ‘round the world. University of New Mexico soccer player Elizabeth Lambert suddenly became the most famous woman in sports this past week, after a video of her aggressively punching and tripping her opponents, and ultimately throwing another player to the grass by her hair, went viral.
The Baltimore City Council passed the second reading of a bill Monday that would require crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) to disclose that they do not provide information or referrals for abortion or birth control. The bill passed on a 12 to 3 vote after an amendment that would have also required disclaimers to be posted […]
The United States lags behind most other industrialized countries in failing to provide paid sick leave, paid paternal leave, breastfeeding breaks and other policies to support workers, according to an eight-year-long worldwide study released this week that focuses on family-friendly workplace policy. Raising the Global Floor: Dismantling the Myth that We Can’t Afford Good Working […]
An independent panel appointed by the Department of Health and Human Services released a recommendation Monday that women should not have mammograms until their 50s and that subsequent mammograms should be performed every other year. According to the New York Times, the panel also said doctors should stop teaching women how to conduct self-exams because […]
Several of the most prominent gay newspapers in the country were suddenly shut down Monday when their parent company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, forcing liquidation. Affected publications include the Washington Blade, South Florida Blade, 411 Magazine, Houston Voice, David Magazine, and the Southern Voice Newspaper, the New York Times reports. All of the publications […]
A Pakistani middle school for girls was bombed late last night near Peshawar, which is in the northern region bordering Afghanistan. No one was injured in the bombing, but reports indicate that the attack completely destroyed the girls’ school building. According to officials, this is the third school bombing this month in the Peshawar region. […]
Last week, an Argentinean Judge granted the first same sex marriage license in Latin America to two men, Jose Maria Di Bello and Alex Freyre. According to Agence France Presse, the couple sued after being denied a marriage license from the civil registry because they were both men. Judge Gabriela Seijas’ ruled in favor of […]
Effective December 14th, young women who are seeking legal permanent resident status in the United States will no longer be required to be vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). According to the Federal Register, “while HPV may be an age appropriate vaccine for an immigrant applicant, HPV neither causes outbreaks nor is it associated with […]
A federal court jury ruled in favor of Michelle Maher, a former Fresno Fire Department recruit, who alleged she was forced out of the department’s training due to her gender. Maher’s sex discrimination claim rested on the premise that she was “told that she could not be successful in the fire department as a mother,” […]
The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced plans yesterday to work with their insurance provider Cigna to end the coverage of elective abortions under their health insurance. According to the Associated Press, RNC Chairman Michael Steele said in a statement, “Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose. I don’t know why […]
The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, DC, threatened Wednesday to stop offering social services if the city passes a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The Church expressed that one of the driving reasons for their opposition to the law was that it does not include an exemption that would allow the Church to discriminate against gay […]
The lawyers of Scott Roeder, who allegedly murdered George Tiller, MD, in May, are seeking to relocate the trial so that it will take place outside of Sedgwick County, in Witchita, Kansas. The lawyers argue that due to media coverage of Dr. Tiller’s Death and Roeder’s subsequent arrest, it is unlikely that Roeder will get […]
The Mormon Church issued a statement yesterday supporting an anti-discrimination ordinance passed unanimously in Salt Lake City Tuesday. The ordinance is the first in Utah to ban employment and housing discrimination against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, the New York Times reports. In the statement, managing director of the Church […]
Legislation that would require most “limited-service pregnancy centers” to provide disclaimers about the services they provide was introduced Tuesday in the Montgomery County, Maryland, City Council. According to the Washington Post, the disclaimer would require that information provided by these centers “is not intended to be medical advice or to establish a doctor-patient relationship,” and […]
Fourteen women ski jumpers will appear in a British Colombia court today to continue their legal battle for the opportunity to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. After the International Olympic Committee (IOC) rejected the inclusion of women’s ski jumping in the 2010 games, the athletes brought the issue to court as […]
The DC Council’s Committee on Public Safety and Judiciary approved a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in the nation’s Capital yesterday, advancing it to a full Council vote in December. The Religious Freedom & Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009 (see PDF) passed by a vote of 4 to 1 with Council member […]
The American Medical Association (AMA) voted yesterday in favor of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and proclaimed that existing bans on gay marriage negatively affect the health of the LGBTQ community. According to the Huffington Post, the AMA based its assertion on evidence that married couples are more likely to have health insurance and that […]
