On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled against an Ohio law that prevented transgender individuals from correcting their assigned gender on their birth certificate. Judge Michael Watson found the measure unconstitutional, writing in his decision that, “This policy resembles the sort of discrimination-based legislation struck down under the equal protection clause in Romer v. Evans as […]
Pro-Trump Rally Causes Violence in Washington, D.C.
Four people were stabbed in Washington, D.C. this weekend when pro-Trump protesters fought with counterprotesters. Social media videos show that protesters were wearing the colors and insignia of the Proud Boys, a far-right white supremacist organization. Black Lives Matter signs were torn down from two historic Black churches in D.C., and then destroyed by pro-Trump […]
As Kamala Harris Becomes Vice President, Feminists Urge Gov. Newsom to #AppointABlackWoman in Her Place
“Our representative democracy is supposed to represent us,” urges a joint letter—part of a recent push from a coalition of notable feminists to convince California Gov. Gavin Newsom to replace Vice President-Elect Harris’s Senate seat with another Black woman. Presently, the number of Black women in the Senate totals just one—Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. And […]
Malala Maiwand: Journalist and Women’s Rights Activist Assassinated
Today, on World Human Rights Day, journalist and women’s rights activist Malala Maiwand was assassinated on her way to work in Jalalabad city in Afghanistan. Malala worked at a private tv and radio network and her driver, Tahir, was assassinated in the attack as well. In addition to her full-time journalism job, Malala worked on […]
Police Raid Former Florida Data Scientist’s Home
On Monday, Rebekah Jones’ home was raided by Florida law enforcement agents. She was fired in May from the state health department, after she helped create the Florida state COVID-19 dashboard, because she refused requests to manipulate data regarding Florida’s readiness to ease COVID restrictions. Additionally, Jones accused Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his administration […]
Army Reprimands Senior Officials After Murder and Assault at Fort Hood
CW: murder, sexual misconduct Yesterday, the Army announced that 14 senior officers will receive punishment following the investigation of the death of Vanessa Guillén. This is one of the largest disciplinary actions ever taken by the service to date. These 14 officers will be relieved or suspended from their positions, after a probe was initiated […]
Sohaila Siddiq: A Feminist Icon, Public Servant, and Lieutenant General
Afghanistan’s first female lieutenant general, Suhalia Siddiq, died on December 4 at the same hospital where she served as one of the top surgeons in the country for 36 years. This long-time feminist icon was one of only two women appointed to the cabinet after the removal of the Taliban from power in 2002. She […]
Biden’s Choices for CDC Director and HHS Secretary Promote Diversity & Equity
President-elect Joe Biden has announced two more appointments for his future White House team – Rochelle Walenksy as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Xavier Becerra as the next secretary of the Health and Human Services Department (HHS). Both appointees have backgrounds in protecting healthcare access and equity. […]
Ohio Governor Expected to Sign Bill Requiring the Burial of Abortion Remains
Last Thursday, the Ohio House of Representatives approved a bill that would require the burial of fetal remains from surgical abortions. The bill passed along party lines by a vote of 60-36 in the House, and 24-7 in the Senate. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is expected to sign the bill into law. The measure will […]
Court Rules Texas and Louisiana Can Cut Medicaid Funding for Planned Parenthood
A federal appeals court ruled on Monday that both Texas and Louisiana can stop providing funding to Planned Parenthood clinics, a clear move against abortion rights that will disproportionately impact low-income people and people of color. This move by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans also impacts Mississippi, which is under […]
Idaho One of Many States to Pass Trigger Law to Ban Abortion if Roe v. Wade Gets Overturned
In March of this year, Idaho governor Brad Little signed a law that deemed abortion a crime in Idaho if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned. This months-old decision has become increasingly relevant, as Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s appointment to the Supreme Court has made the possibility of overturning Roe more of a reality. […]
Court Ruling in England Prevents Trans Children From Seeking Hormone Therapy
A high court in England has ruled that children under the age of 16 who are seeking gender confirmation treatment are “unlikely to be mature enough to give informed consent to be prescribed puberty-blocking drugs”. This 19-page court ruling was made in an action against the Tavistock and Portman NHS trust, which is responsible forthe […]
Biden Appoints Record Number of Women to Top Roles
President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team has announced his picks for his communications and economic teams. Most of his announced picks are women, several of whom are women of color, following his campaign promise to build a diverse administration. Biden nominated Neera Tanden as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Tanden currently leads the […]
U.S. House Committee Hearing Warns Against Troop Reduction in Afghanistan
The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the Hill last Friday at which a panel of three foreign policy experts, and most members of the Committee, expressed their concerns about the ongoing peace process and the impending Trump-backed troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. The three experts called it a “mistake,” “dangerous” and changing “the […]
Biden Announces Janet Yellen as First Female Head of Treasury Department
On Monday, President-elect Joe Biden announced Janet Yellen as his nominee for Secretary of the Treasury, the first woman to hold the position in the history of the country if confirmed. Ms. Yellen is a labor market expert and is widely considered a strong feminist. She has spoken publicly of her support for economic policies […]
Biden Expected to Announce Linda Thomas-Greenfield as Ambassador to the UN
President-elect Joe Biden is expected to announce Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a longtime Black diplomat, as ambassador to the United Nations in a move to affirm his commitment to a diverse Cabinet. Greenfield has worked as a foreign service officer since the Reagan administration. She served as ambassador to Liberia, and as the Assistant Secretary of State […]
Biden Plans to Repeal Mexico City Policy, a Win for Abortion Rights
President-elect Joe Biden has committed to rescinding the Mexico City Policy, also known as the “global gag rule”, a policy that “currently bars the U.S. federal government from supporting important global health efforts — including for malaria and HIV/AIDS — in developing countries simply because the organizations providing that aid also offer information on abortion […]
Massachusetts Legislature to Pass Budget Amendments to Expand Abortion Access
Advocates in the state of Massachusetts are currently working to get budget amendments based on the ROE Act passed, otherwise known as “An Act to Remove Obstacles and Expand Abortion Access” (S.1209). This bill aims to cement abortion rights in Massachusetts state law, in a time where reproductive rights are under question and attack. At […]
Trump’s Order to Withdraw from Afghanistan Draws Ire Domestically and Abroad
On Tuesday, President Trump ordered the withdrawal of more troops from Afghanistan and Iraq. Leaders within his party, as well as global allies, shared their concerns that leaving “too soon” could have a high cost. In a statement to CNN, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that, “the price for leaving too soon or in […]
LSU Staff & Administration Mishandle Sexual Assault
CW: sexual assault, rape A USA Today investigation that was released yesterday indicates that Louisiana State University has mishandled numerous sexual assault complaints against students, many of which are athletes. A large number of these sexual misconduct complaints have been about the football team’s running back, Derrius Guice. A member of the diving team told […]