Lt. Wendy Costello, one of the highest ranking females in the Orange County, California’s Sheriff’s Departments, has sued the department for sexual harassment. Costello claims that the agency repeatedly harassed female employees, denied them promotions based on gender and exploited them. Costello also claims that Sheriff Brad Gates contributed to the atmosphere of sexually harassment. […]
Jury Rules Woman Improperly Fired Because She Was Pregnant
A jury in Dayton, Ohio has awarded $146,800 to a woman who was fired after she refused her employer’s suggestion that she abort her seventh child and the her husband have a vasectomy. Linda Kreider, they found, was improperly fired for being pregnant and should be reinstated as a production manager at Creative Fabricators, Inc. […]
Oman Changes Divorce and Marriage Laws
A new Oman law has granted women the right of divorce and has set the minimum age for marriage at 18. A woman may seek a divorce if her husband is missing for more than a year, jailed for three years or more, or if she is not financially supported in the event of a […]
U.S. to Push Women’s Empowerment Issues at Earth Summit
Under Secretary of State Tim Wirth has said that the United States will press to link women’s rights and the environment at the United Nations Earth Summit. U.S. negotiators will attempt to link empowering women with fighting environmental degradation in the document which the five-day summit will produce. Nafis Sadik, executive director of the United […]
Title IX Enforcement Emphasized by President Clinton
In honor of the 25th Anniversary of Title IX (June 23, 1997), the federal law that prohibits gender discrimination in federally-funded education, President Clinton issued a directive asking all federal agencies to develop enforcement plans for Title IX, and to take action to eradicate discrimination in educational programs conducted by the federal government (which are […]
American Medical Association Approves D&X Ban
Apparently more concerned with its political clout than the health and lives of women, the American Medical Association has ratified its Board’s earlier support of legislation which would ban the D&X procedure used in some late-term abortions. Dr. David Holley, an oncologist from Monterey, California told delegates, “You don’t make a deal and then welsh […]
Federal Judge Likely to Delay Enforcement of Parental-Notice Law
U.S. District Judge James C. Turk indicated during a hearing that he will likely delay enforcement of Virginia’s strict parental consent law. Turk commented, “I really see little or no harm for granting a temporary restraining order, and I think it would serve the public interest not to be enforcing the law if it is […]
Los Angeles Police Commission Approves New Discipline Guidelines
Police officers in Los Angeles who commit offenses such as degrading women and minorities will face stricter punishments as of Tuesday, June 24. The Los Angeles Police Commission has affirmed a new set of discipline guidelines which suggest penalties varying from reprimands to termination. The new guidelines regard “racist or sexist behavior or any form […]
Army Sergeant Testifies Sex Ring Targeted Female Trainees
An Army drill sergeant, who has been accused of sexual misconduct and who testified that he belonged to a sex ring which targeted female trainees, has pleaded guilty to reduced charges. Staff Sergeant Wayne Gamble, stationed at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, has pleaded guilty to adultery, violating rules of socializing, engaging in sex […]
Polish Government Rejects Bid for Abortion Referendum
In a blow to pro-choice advocates in Poland and internationally, the Polish parliament has rejected a bid to call for referendum on whether or not to allow abortion for social reasons. Members of parliament voted 197 to 178, with 14 abstentions, against allowing the referendum to appear on the vote during the same time as […]
Egypt Overturns Female Circumcision Ban
On Tuesday, June 24, Cairo Administrative Court Judge Abdul Aziz Hamade overturned the Health Ministry’s 1996 ban on female circumcisions. The Judge claims that the Ministry cannot forbid a practice that parliament does not consider illegal. Eight Islamic scholars and doctors challenged the decree on the grounds that it interferes with religious beliefs and physicians’ […]
Marines Assault Civilians
Two Marine sergeants allegedly attacked a couple camping in Oregon’s Mt. Hood National Forest on June 21st. The couple was assaulted and the woman raped near the popular Clear Lake campsite. Sgt. Rudolph Jackson and Sgt. Clinton Bergman were arrested for the assault and arraigned on June 23rd. Bergman has served as a recruiter for […]
Betty Shabazz Dies of Severe Burns
Human rights and civil rights activist Betty Shabazz died on June 23rd, at the age of 63, of severe burns. Shabazz, the widow of Malcolm X, was burned on more than 80 percent of her body during a June 1 blaze, allegedly set by her grandson, that swept through her apartment. Five skin-graft operations, performed […]
New Jersey Governor Whitman Vetoes D&X Ban
New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman (R) has vetoed a state bill that would ban the D&X late-term abortion procedure. Whitman refused to sign the bill because it did not make an exception for cases in which the woman’s health was endangered. The law exempts procedures only to save the woman’s life, apparently her health […]
Congress Attempts to Restrict Abortion Through Budget Amendments
This week the House and Senate will vote on budget-balancing measures which create controversy not only in financial matters but in the abortion issue as well. The bill includes the “Hyde Amendment” which would deny federal funds for abortions as part of a proposed program of health care for uninsured children age 18 and under. […]
Kentucky Meeting Focuses on Importance of Women Business Owners
Phyllis Hill Slater, the incoming president of the 10,000-member National Association of Women Business Owners, addressed the group’s Lexington, Kentucky chapter’s annual meeting on June 24th. Hill Slater discussed the importance of women in America’s business landscape and future. Hill Slater said that the group helps women by allowing women to network and for more […]
Federal Court Orders Army to Open McKinney Hearings
On Monday, the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ordered the Army to open its sexual misconduct case against Army Sgt. Maj. Gene McKinney to the news media and public. Major news organizations and the accused soldier petitioned the federal court to open the pretrial hearing, but the Army argued that allowing the […]
Clintons Campaign for Female Senators
President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton spent Monday raising funds for California Senator Barbara Boxer and Washington Senator Patty Murray. Both women face difficult re-election races in 1998. Republican Rep. Sonny Bono may challenge Boxer, and Republican Rep. Linda Smith will run against Murray. Republican organizations have declared Murray’s state as one […]
Numerous Southern Baptists Found at Disney Parks Despite Boycott
After a declared boycott of the Walt Disney Company by the Southern Baptist Convention, plenty of Southern Baptists could be found at Walt Disney World. Kay Sanders of Daytona Beach, Florida commented, “I’m not going to boycott. It’s crazy. Kids have to be someplace, and there aren’t many places safer than Disney World. And if […]
American Medical Association Elects First Female President
The 150-year-old, 292,000-member American Medical Association has elected a female president for the first time in its history. Dr. Nancy W. Dickey, a family practitioner from Texas, was elected by acclamation on Sunday June 22, 1997. The year-long position pays $222,000 and holds mostly a spokeswoman role for the group’s members. Currently, Dickey is the […]