The Republican majority Senate of the state of Virginia passed a resolution to ratify the federal Equal Rights Amendment on Tuesday, the 15th. The resolution was passed by a vote of 26 to 14.
Equal Rights Amendment Passes Virginia Senate
BREAKING: The Virginia State Senate has passed the Equal Rights Amendment by a vote of 26-14. More details will be announced tomorrow.
Virginia could be the Historic Vote to Guarantee Equal Rights Nationwide
For the past ten days Virginia lawmakers have been travelling the state on a bus tour advocating for Virginia to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. This is significant because Virginia could become the 38th state to ratify the ERA; 38 states are needed for ratification and a bipartisan group of Virginia legislators want Virginia to […]
Feminist Candidates Find Support in Battleground Districts
A recent poll in eleven battleground districts, including districts in Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Arizona, and Minnesota, revealed that about half of voters support electing feminist candidates. In Kentucky’s sixth district, 47 percent of voters supported electing more feminist candidates, while more than 50 percent of voters supported feminist candidates in Pennsylvania, […]
Virginia Board of Health Reviewing TRAP Laws
The Virginia Board of Health is reviewing the state’s “Regulations for Licensure of Abortion Facilities” and asking for broad public feedback concerning how people feel about Virginia’s TRAP laws, or targeted regulations on abortion providers. The Feminist Majority Foundation and other women’s rights organizations are asking Virginians to submit a comment urging the Board of […]
Virginia Medicaid Expansion to Begin January 1
Two weeks ago, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam approved a state budget that included allocations for Medicaid expansion. The expansion will go into effect on January 1 and will cover over 400,000 currently uninsured adults.
Court Upholds Rights of Transgender Student Under Title IX
Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Arenda Allens ruled in favor of former-high school student Gavin Grimm by refusing to dismiss his case against the Gloucester County School Board over the right of transgender students to use bathrooms that corresponds to their gender identity.
Federal Appeals Court Hears Title IX Complaint Brought by Feminist Majority Foundation
Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit heard oral arguments in a Title IX sex discrimination complaint brought by the Feminist Majority Foundation against the University of Mary Washington and UMW’s former president Richard Hurley.
Fairfax County Pushes Virginia to Ratify ERA
On Tuesday, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously for a resolution in support of the Virginia legislature ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
One Vote Splits the Virginia State House Between Democrats and Republicans
On Tuesday, a ballot recount over a contested seat in the Virginia House of Delegates ended in a one-vote victory for Democratic candidate Shelly Simonds, resulting in a 50-50 split of the state house between Republicans and Democrats. Though the results must be certified by a three judge panel on Wednesday, Simonds is expected to represent the 94th district, located in Newport News, Virginia, unseating Republican incumbent David Yancey.
Whole Woman’s Health Alliance Announces the Opening of Two New Clinics
This week, the Whole Woman’s Health Alliance (WWHA) announced that they will be opening two new clinics, one in Charlottesville, Virginia and the other in South Bend, Indiana. While there was resistance from anti-abortion protesters, this announcement was met with resounding support from a number of women’s health advocates.
White Supremacists Hold Another Hate Filled Rally in Charlottesville, VA
On Saturday, white supremacist leader Richard Spencer held another torch lit rally in Charlottesville, Virginia where neo-Nazis and white supremacists held the “Unite the Right” rally that turned deadly in August.
Abortion Clinics in 3 Cities Invaded by Anti-Abortion Extremists
Anti-abortion extremists invaded three reproductive health clinics in Sterling Heights, Michigan; Alexandria, Virginia; and Albuquerque, New Mexico on Friday September 15, by entering the facilities and refusing to leave.
White Supremacists Hold Hate-Filled Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia
White supremacists, emboldened by the election of Donald Trump, took to the streets in Charlottesville, Virginia and Seattle, Washington this weekend for one of the most visible displays of hatred from the new so-called “alt-right” movement.
Hearing Begins in Case of Anti-Abortion Group Versus Virginia
The Feminist Majority Foundation and other members of the reproductive healthcare community were in front of the Henrico County Circuit Court to show support for the Board of Health’s decision and solidarity with the women of Virginia.
Congressional Shooting was 154th Mass Shooting in 2017
Like most perpetrators of mass shootings, Hodgkinson had a history of domestic abuse and battery.
Feminist Majority Foundations Sues University of Mary Washington For Title IX Violation
The university’s administration, including President Hurley, was aware of the over 700 “Yaks”, many of which directly threatened the women with physical harm, including rape, and yet failed to take any action to enforce Title IX and ensure the women’s safety, citing misguided First Amendment concerns.
Anti-Abortion Group Files Lawsuit Against Removal of Virginia Abortion Restriction
Last week the Family Foundation filed a lawsuit opposing amendments to Virginia’s “Regulations for Licensure of Abortion Facilities” that removed unconstitutional outpatient surgical center building requirements imposed on clinics that perform abortions.
Supreme Court Sends Transgender Rights Case Back to Lower Court
On Monday the Supreme Court announced that they will no longer hear the case of transgender student Gavin Grimm, sending the case back to the appeal’s court for further consideration in light of the Trump administration’s rescinding of Title IX protections for transgender students.
Virginia Governor Vetoes Bill to Block Abortion Providers from Title X Funding
HB 2264 would have specifically cut off Title X funding to organizations that perform abortion despite the fact that Title X funding does not directly pay for those services due to the longstanding Hyde Amendment, instead funding STI/STD testing, cancer screenings and birth control access for women who do not qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford health insurance.