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2/22/2012 - VA Governor Changes Position on Transvaginal Ultrasound Bill
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (R) has indicated that he would need to review the bill, which requires that women seeking an abortion undergo a transvaginal ultrasound, before signing it. The Governor claimed to have recently learned about the invasiveness of a transvaginal ultrasound, which requires a probe being inserted into the vagina. Previously, the Governor pledged his unconditional support of the bill.
Tucker Martin, a spokesman for Governor McDonnell stated, "Our position is: If the General Assembly passes this bill the governor will review it, in its final form, at that time." The House and the Senate have approved separate versions of the bill, although yesterday the House postponed a final vote on the Senate bill. An amendment, introduced by Delegate Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria), requiring the women's consent for the transvaginal ultrasound probe was ruled non germane by the House Speaker. An alternate amendment introduced by Delegate David Englin (D-Alexandria) was then voted down. This means a probe must be inserted into the woman's vagina with or without her consent if she seeks an abortion. Democrats are currently trying to change the bill to make the ultrasound optional.
Delegate Herring remarked, "There is no doubt that this bill...is fundamentally and seriously flawed. It is time to end the shame that has been brought to Virginia and to this chamber by this extreme bill."
On Monday, between 1,000 and 1,500 women stood arm-in-arm yesterday at the Virginia state Capitol in Richmond to silently protest this bill, as well as a personhood amendment, scheduled for votes by the state's General Assembly.
2/22/2012 - US Supreme Court to Consider Affirmative Action Case
Yesterday, the US Supreme Court indicated that it would hear a case, Fisher v. University of Texas, involving affirmative action at the University of Texas at Austin. The case, brought by Abagail Fisher, a Caucasian student claiming to have been denied admissions on account of her race, could "eliminate diversity as a rationale sufficient to justify any use of race in admission decisions," according to the New York Times.
The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit previously ruled in favor of the University of Texas, indicating that the university had not violated the civil or constitutional rights of the plaintiffs. In 2003, the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 in Grutter v. Bollinger to prohibit public colleges and universities from using a points system in admissions decisions to increase minority admissions but that the schools could account for race in other ways to promote diversity.
Justice Elena Kagan, having worked on the case during her term as solicitor general, has disqualified herself from hearing the case.
2/22/2012 - UC Davis to Pay $1.35 Million Settlement in Title IX Case
Last week, the University of California at Davis agreed to pay $1.35 million in a settlement with three women wrestlers after a US Federal Court ruled in August 2011 that the university violated Title IX by not sufficiently expanding intercollegiate athletic opportunities for female students between 1998 and 2005. The court also found that the university ended more than 60 intercollegiate sports opportunities for women without replacing them. The settlement covers the cost of the court fees for the eight year duration of the case, but does not include money to the plaintiffs since the court ruled the women were not entitled to damages.
The wrestlers, Arezou Mansourian, Christine Ng, and Lauren Mancusco filed suit in 2003 after UC Davis eliminated women's opportunities in wrestling and other women's sports. When an official at UC Davis decided to limit the number of students allowed on the wrestling team, players were required to try out for a spot. The plaintiffs did not make the cut, which required each wrestler to wrestle-off with opponents of a similar size.
Title IX expert, Kristen Galles from Equity Legal points out that the "The Ninth Circuit opinion emphasized that schools must have both a history and continuing practice of expanding opportunities for women. They cannot just wait until someone files a legal complaint. Schools have affirmative, independent obligations to expand opportunities when women are underrepresented in sports."
"While we were proud to stand up with these plaintiffs for what's right and fair, we look forward to the day when it doesn't take a lawsuit to enforce Title IX," said Linda D. Hallman, American Association for University Women (AAUW) Executive Director.
The Feminist Majority Foundation is currently working to rescind the 2006 Bush-era Title IX regulations that make it significantly easier to allow single-sex classrooms in public schools.
2/21/2012 - Thousands Protest VA Anti-Abortion Bills
Between 1,000 and 1,500 women stood arm-in-arm yesterday at the Virginia state Capitol in Richmond to silently protest two anti-abortion bills scheduled for votes by the state's General Assembly. One is a "personhood bill," sponsored by Delegate Bob Marshall (R-Prince William), which states that life begins at conception and would give rights to a fertilized egg. The other bill would require that women seeking abortions undergo a transvaginal ultrasound, which requires a probe being inserted into the vagina.
Last week, the House of Delegates passed the "personhood bill," which proposes to give "unborn children at every stage of development all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of the Commonwealth." The bill will now go to the state Senate Education and Health Committee. Republican Governor Bob McDonnell has not indicated whether he will sign the bill.
The transvaginal ultrasound bill has passed the House of Delegates and has gone to the Senate Education and Health Committee. Governor McDonnell has pledge to sign the bill.
Delegate L. Kaye Kory (D-Fairfax) criticized the transvaginal ultrasound bill, saying on the House floor yesterday that it would require women to "submit to involuntary vaginal penetration...This [legislative] body is mounting an assault on the freedom and liberty of women in the commonwealth of Virginia."
2/21/2012 - Sex Discrimination Lawsuit Filed Against TX Wal-Mart
Late last week, attorneys filed a complaint in US District Court, Northern District of Dallas, on behalf of approximately 50,000 current and former women employees of Wal-Mart, alleging that the corporation discriminated on the basis of sex. The plaintiffs in the case, Odle et al v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., seeks punitive damages, claiming that Wal-Mart denied equal pay and promotions to women employees in its Texas stores.
Hal K. Gillespie, lead co-counsel, stated, "This suit alleges Wal-Mart Texas Regions have a general policy of discrimination. What we have found during our discovery is a consistent and willful practice of discrimination in pay. What we have found during our discovery is a consistent and willful practice of discrimination in pay and promotion against women employees in Wal-Mart stores throughout Texas. This case is in complete compliance with the new class action and employment discrimination guidelines. We can now seek justice for these women, many of whom had been discriminated against for more than a decade."
This is the second class action suit designed to serve as a scaled down version of the initial lawsuit sex discrimination lawsuit filed against Wal-Mart in 2001 and rejected by the U.S Supreme Court in June. The court ruled that the suit was too varied in its allegations, showing no concrete pattern of gender bias, effectively making Wal-Mart "too big to sue."
2/17/2012 - "Where are the Women"
Yesterday, Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, refused to allow the Democrats to have a single witness at the hearing on the Obama Administration's decision on the religious exemption on contraception coverage. Furthermore, the Republicans selected only male speakers to discuss the issue of women's contraception.
The Democratic minority had requested that Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown Law School student testify, but this request was denied by Chairman Issa. Committee Democrats criticized this decision with Ranking Member Elijah Commings (D-MD) calling Issa's decision a "massive injustice." Cummings ceded most of his allotted time to speak to Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).
Maloney began by saying, "What I want to know is, where are the women? I look at this panel, and I don't see one single individual representing the tens of millions of women across the country who want and need insurance coverage for basic preventive health care services, including family planning...Of course this hearing is about rights-contraception and birth control. It's about the fact that women want to have access to basic health services [and] family planning through their insurance plan."
Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton ((D-DC) continued the challenge of Issa's refusal to include Fluke as a witness, ending in a heated exchange with the Chair and both Holmes Norton and Maloney walking out of the hearing.
All ten of the witnesses spoke out against the new contraception rules. Representative Cummings stated, "Rather than inviting witnesses on both sides of this issue to engage in a reasoned and balanced discussion, you have constructed one of the most one-sided hearings I have ever seen, stacking it only with witnesses who agree with your position."
2/17/2012 - OK Senate Passes Personhood Bill
On Wednesday, the Oklahoma state Senate voted 34 to 8 in favor of a bill, which states that life begins at conception and would give rights to a fertilized egg. The bill is expected to be passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The Oklahoma State Medical Association has come out against the bill since it could ban women from accessing contraception.
Senator Judy Eason McIntyre (D-Tulsa) stated, "What do we do in Oklahoma? You get in our bodies. Women have a right to make choices about their bodies. Women should not have the government tell us what we can do with our bodies."
If the personhood initiative appears on the ballot, emergency contraception, birth control pills, IUDs, and abortions - even in cases of rape and incest or to save the life of the woman or girl - would be threatened. The initiative would even go so far as to eliminate medical choices for women, including some cancer treatments, in vitro fertilization, and could allow the state to investigate and even prosecute a woman for a miscarriage.
If passed in the Senate and signed by the Governor, the law would directly challenge the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion in the US and perhaps Griswold v. Connecticut, which struck down state laws banning birth control.
2/17/2012 - Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passes NJ Assembly
Yesterday the New Jersey Assembly voted 41 to 33 to pass a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The New Jersey Senate voted earlier this week in favor of the legislation. Republican Governor Chris Christie has vowed to veto the measure. In order to override Christie's veto, 27 votes would be necessary in the state Senate and 54 in the Assembly.
Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, stated, "Today, the New Jersey State Legislature sent a powerful message that all its citizens should be treated equally under the law, and that all families deserve the same protections. Governor Christie may veto this legislation, but he is out of step with the majority of voters on this issue. We will not give up until marriage equality becomes a reality in New Jersey."
Currently, New Jersey, Illinois, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Hawaii recognize same-sex civil unions. Same-sex couples can obtain marriage licenses in Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, and Washington, DC.
2/16/2012 - Representative Issa Bars Witness from Testifying at Congressional Hearing
Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, each issued letters to Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA), Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, following his refusal to allow a minority witness to testify at a Congressional hearing: "Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?" Ranking Member Cummings wanted to allow Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown Law School student, to testify at the hearing regarding the Obama Administration's recent ruling on contraception coverage under the preventive care package of the Affordable Care Act; however Representative Issa refused the request, stating that the hearing "is not about reproductive rights and contraception."
Representative Maloney criticized Issa's decision in her letter: "What I want to know is, where are the women? I look at this panel, and I don't see one single individual representing the tens of millions of women across the country who want and need insurance coverage for basic preventive health care services, including family planning...Of course this hearing is about rights-contraception and birth control. It's about the fact that women want to have access to basic health services [and] family planning through their insurance plan."
Representative Cummings also stated, "Rather than inviting witnesses on both sides of this issue to engage in a reasoned and balanced discussion, you have constructed one of the most one-sided hearings I have ever seen, stacking it only with witnesses who agree with your position. Earlier this week, you informed Committee Members that you had invited nine witnesses, including officials from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and other religious entities that oppose the accommodation announced last week by the Administration to allow women employees of religiously-affiliated organizations such as hospitals and universities to obtain coverage for contraceptive services through their insurance companies. You did not invite officials from the Catholic Health Association, Catholic Charities USA, Catholics United or a host of other Catholic groups that praised the White House."
2/16/2012 - TX Ultrasound Law to Go into Effect
The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Center for Reproductive Right's request for a rehearing concerning a TX ultrasound law, which will now go into effect immediately. In January, a three judge panel of the Fifth US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to uphold a Texas law requiring that doctors describe ultrasounds in detail and play the sound of the fetal heartbeat, if a heartbeat is present, to women seeking abortions. In doing so, the Fifth Circuit overturned Federal District Court Judge Sam Sparks' August preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the law.
The case was filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of Texas medical providers challenging Texas' new abortion ultrasound law. The Center for Reproductive Rights claims that the law violates patients' and doctors' First Amendment Rights by requiring "physicians to violate basic standards of medical ethics by compelling them to disregard the wishes of patients who do not want to receive this information."
Center for Reproductive Rights President and CEO Nancy Northup stated, "Women's fundamental reproductive rights, and the First Amendment rights of their doctors, are now being violated on a daily basis because of this extreme and intrusive law, and it is disappointing that the full court has declined to consider their case."
2/15/2012 - VA House Approves Personhood Bill
The Virginia House of Delegates voted 66 to 32 in favor of a "personhood bill," sponsored by Delegate Bob Marshall (R-Prince William), which states that life begins at conception and would give rights to a fertilized egg. The bill proposes to give "unborn children at every stage of development all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of the Commonwealth." An amendment to state explicitly that the Personhood legislation did not outlaw contraception was voted down 64-34. The personhood bill will now go to the state Senate where Republicans and Democrats hold an equal number of seats. Republican Governor Bob McDonnell has not indicated whether he will sign the bill.
Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) added, "I cannot sit quietly today and do nothing while this body decides what rights will be stripped away from my daughter and others in regard to their own health. I do not want to see a day when the only option for women and men to obtain the contraception of their choice is to leave our state and go to Washington DC or Maryland."
Tarina Keene, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, stated, "This is a giant step backwards for our Commonwealth. This bill could undermine the ability of the 1.7 million Virginia women of reproductive age and their families to make personal and private decisions. With the word 'person' appearing more than 25,000 times in the Virginia code, this legislation has far-reaching and unforeseen immediate consequences including the possibility of changing tax, property, and probate law as well as interfering with doctors' ability to treat miscarriages."
If passed in the Senate and signed by the Governor, the law would directly challenge the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion in the US and perhaps Griswold v. Connecticut, which struck down state laws banning birth control.
2/15/2012 - VA House Passes Transvaginal Ultrasound Bill
The Virginia state House of Delegates voted 63 to 36 to pass a bill requiring that women seeking abortions undergo a transvaginal ultrasound, which requires a probe being inserted into the vagina. Delegate Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria) criticized the bill, saying "We're talking about inside a woman's body. This is the first time, if we pass this bill, that we will be dictating a medical procedure to a physician."
The House also voted down by a vote of 64 to 34 an amendment, which requires the women's consent for the transvaginal ultrasound probe. This means a probe must be inserted into the woman's vagina with or without her consent if she seeks an abortion.
The bill will now go to the state Senate. Republican Governor Bob McDonnell indicated that he will sign the bill.
2/14/2012 - Same-Sex Marriage Bills Prevail in WA, NJ
Yesterday Washington Governor Chris Gregoire signed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the state making Washington the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill passed the Washington House of Representatives by a vote of 55 to 43 and the state Senate by a vote of 28 to 21.
Although the law is scheduled to go into effect June 7, if Preserve Marriage Washington, a group that filed a referendum, collects over 120,577 valid voter signatures by June 6, a hold will be put on the law until the November election.
Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, stated, "Today's signature of the marriage equality law puts Washington on the road to fairness for all families. While those opposed to marriage for gay and lesbian couples will no doubt try to undo this progress, I am confident that equality will prevail in Washington."
Also yesterday, the New Jersey Senate voted 24 to 16 in favor of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. Last year, the New Jersey Senate rejected a same-sex marriage bill by a vote of 20 to 14. The state Assembly is expected to vote on the bill this Thursday.
Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality, stated, "It means the world isn't changing, it means the world has already changed. So wake up and smell the equality." Nevertheless, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) has pledge to veto the bill.
Currently, New Jersey, Illinois, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Hawaii recognize same-sex civil unions. Same-sex couples can obtain marriage licenses in Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, and Washington, DC.
2/14/2012 - CA Students Win Title IX Lawsuit in US District Court
A group of high school female athletes won their Title IX class action lawsuit against Sweetwater Union High School District in California. In Ollier v. Sweetwater Union High School, et al., US District Court Judge James Lorenz ruled that Castle Park High School's athletic facilities and resources for male students were superior to those provided for female students.
For example, the girls' softball field was not maintained well and did not have fences, while the boys' field was in top condition. Women athletes were also more likely to have fewer coaches than their male counterparts, and the women-only teams never had the support of the school's cheerleaders and only had the support of the marching band on a few occasions. The district will now have 45 days to submit a proposed plan of compliance.
The 1972 Education Amendment's Title IX prohibits discrimination in education, including athletics, based on sex. "Title IX is almost 40 years old, yet we still see this type of blatant discrimination against young girls all across the country," said Elizabeth Kristen of The Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center, which filed the case in 2007, along with the California Women's Law Center and Manatt, Phelps, & Phillips, LLP.
The Feminist Majority Foundation is currently working to rescind the 2006 Bush-era Title IX regulations that make it significantly easier to allow single-sex classrooms in public schools.
2/13/2012 - Federal Court to Hear Challenge to Proposition 209
The US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear a lawsuit today concerning a legal challenge to Proposition 209, which bans state government institutions, including public colleges and universities, from considering race, sex or ethnicity in employment decisions of education admissions in the state of California. The lawsuit comes over 15 years after the state passed Proposition 209.
The legal challenge was filed in January 2010 by several dozen Latino and Native American students, arguing that the ban violates their civil rights and noting that since Proposition 209 was passed, the number of underrepresented minorities has decreased on public university campuses in the state. The San Francisco Gate reports that "At UC Berkeley, the current freshmen class of California residents is roughly 1 percent Native American, 3.5 percent black, 15 percent Latino, 30 percent white, and 48 percent Asian."
In December 2010, US District Judge Samuel Conti dismissed a lawsuit challenging Proposition 209. A similar challenge was also rejected in 1997, and the California Supreme Court has ruled twice that Proposition 209 is constitutional.
2/13/2012 - Teenage Pregnancy Rates Decline
The teenage birthrate reached a 40 year low in 2008, according to a study, entitled "U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births and Abortions, 2008: National Trends by Age, Race and Ethnicity." Teen pregnancy has declined by a rate of 42 percent since it peaked in 1990, according to a Guttmacher Institute study conducted by Kathryn Kost and Stanley Henshaw.
The study states that in 2008, the last year for which statistics are available, the teenage birthrate was 40.2 births per 1,000 women, compared to the 1991 rate of 61.8 per 1,000. Likewise, the teenage abortion rate in 2008 was 17.8 abortions per 1,000 women, the lowest rate since the legalization of abortion in 1972. According to a study by the National Center for Health Statistics in 2011, the birth rate for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 decreased by 8 percent between the years of 2007 and 2009,
Although the number of pregnancies, births, and abortions has decreased among all teenagers, there is still a large gap in the pregnancy rates among Hispanics, African Americans, and non-Hispanic whites. The African American and Hispanic teenage pregnancy rate is still two to three times higher than the rate of non-Hispanic white teenagers.
Kost, co-author of the study attributes the drop in pregnancy rate to increased and more effective use of contraception by teenagers. She stated, "the recent declines in teen pregnancy rates are great news. However, the continued inequities among racial and ethnic minorities are cause for concern."
2/10/2012 - Feminist Majority Applauds Obama's Implementation of Birth Control Coverage for Women
The Feminist Majority Foundation applauds President Obama's announced implementation of Health and Human Services guidelines requiring insurers to provide women employees and women dependents, including those of religiously-affiliated institutions, birth control without co-pays or deductibles. The President's announced accommodation for religiously-affiliated hospitals, universities, and charities, which requires insurers to provide birth control without cost to women employees, respects women's health needs. The rule, however, still exempts women employees of churches, synagogues, temples and mosques; but fortunately, some of them will voluntarily cover contraceptives without co-pays.
"Ninety-nine percent of women, at some time during their lives, need access to contraceptives, but approximately half of them today cannot afford it. Now finally the vast majority of insured women will have access without co-pays or deductibles. This is a win-win solution. We are determined that political opponents of the Affordable Care Act will not take the preventive care package away from women. The Affordable Care Act is ensuring that women are not discriminated against in health care," stated Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation.
Although not a part of today's announcement, we want to emphasize that women students at religiously-affiliated universities will also have access to birth control without co-pays or deductibles from their insurance plans provided by insurance companies.
The Affordable Care Act preventive care package now includes the following without co-pays or deductibles: approved contraceptives both for birth control and for treatment of several illnesses, as well as annual well-woman visits and cancer screenings, counseling, such as for domestic and interpersonal violence, testing for HIV and STIs, breastfeeding support, and lactation services and supplies.
2/10/2012 - Feminist Majority Applauds Obama's Implementation of Birth Control Coverage for Women
The Feminist Majority Foundation applauds President Obama's announced implementation of Health and Human Services guidelines requiring insurers to provide women employees and women dependents, including those of religiously-affiliated institutions, birth control without co-pays or deductibles. The President's announced accommodation for religiously-affiliated hospitals, universities, and charities, which requires insurers to provide birth control without cost to women employees, respects women's health needs. The rule, however, still exempts women employees of churches, synagogues, temples and mosques; but fortunately, some of them will voluntarily cover contraceptives without co-pays.
"Ninety-nine percent of women, at some time during their lives, need access to contraceptives, but approximately half of them today cannot afford it. Now finally the vast majority of insured women will have access without co-pays or deductibles. This is a win-win solution. We are determined that political opponents of the Affordable Care Act will not take the preventive care package away from women. The Affordable Care Act is ensuring that women are not discriminated against in health care," stated Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation.
Although not a part of today's announcement, we want to emphasize that women students at religiously-affiliated universities will also have access to birth control without co-pays or deductibles from their insurance plans provided by insurance companies.
The Affordable Care Act preventive care package now includes the following without co-pays or deductibles: approved contraceptives both for birth control and for treatment of several illnesses, as well as annual well-woman visits and cancer screenings, counseling, such as for domestic and interpersonal violence, testing for HIV and STIs, breastfeeding support, and lactation services and supplies.
2/10/2012 - Catholics Bishops Argue Religious Exemption
Reproductive health advocates are responding to comments made this week by Anthony Picarello, general counsel to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Arguing for an even more extreme exemption for religious organizations, Picarello said, "If I quit this job and opened a Taco Bell, I'd be covered by the mandate," citing that mandating birth control coverage is unfair for -good Catholic business people who can't in good conscience cooperate with this."
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released a statement in response, saying "The power to decide whether or not each individual woman uses contraception should be with that woman- not her boss. We will not stand for these attempts to undermine the ability of women to make their own decisions."
Last month, Health and Human Services announced that under the women's preventive care package, religiously affiliated schools, hospitals and organizations would be included in the requirement for birth control coverage without co-pays or deductible, exempting only "houses of worship." This announcement has resulted in an outcry from the Conference of Catholic Bishops and bills soon to be introduced in the US House of Representatives and Senate that could jeopardize the entire set of regulations regarding women's preventive care package.
Gillibrand affirms that women's health advocates in the Senate will not back down: "If my Republican colleagues want to continue to take this issue head on, we stand ready to oppose any attacks launched against women's rights and women's health."
2/10/2012 - WA Governor to Sign Same-Sex Marriage Bill
Governor Christine Gregoire indicated that she plans to sign a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the state of Washington on Monday, making Washington the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage. On Wednesday, the bill passed the Washington House of Representatives by a vote of 55 to 43. Last week, the Washington state Senate voted 28 to 21 to pass a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, with four Republicans voting in support of the bill.
Lacey All, Chair of Washington United for marriage, stated, "We thank Majority Leader Brown, Sen. Murray and the bipartisan coalition of senators who stood with us today in the name of equality. The overwhelming support we're seeing from businesses, labor, faith communities, and people all across the state is a testament to the momentum of this movement and sensibilities of Washingtonians."
Currently, New Jersey, Illinois, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Hawaii recognize same-sex civil unions. Same-sex couples can obtain marriage licenses in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, and Washington, DC.
2/10/2012 - Feminist Majority Applauds Obama’s Implementation of Birth Control Coverage for Women
The Feminist Majority Foundation applauds President Obama's announced implementation of Health and Human Services guidelines requiring insurers to provide women employees and women dependents, including those of religiously-affiliated institutions, birth control without co-pays or deductibles. The President's announced accommodation for religiously-affiliated hospitals, universities, and charities, which requires insurers to provide birth control without cost to women employees, respects women's health needs. The rule, however, still exempts women employees of churches, synagogues, temples and mosques; but fortunately, some of them will voluntarily cover contraceptives without co-pays.
"Ninety-nine percent of women, at some time during their lives, need access to contraceptives, but approximately half of them today cannot afford it. Now finally the vast majority of insured women will have access without co-pays or deductibles. This is a win-win solution. We are determined that political opponents of the Affordable Care Act will not take the preventive care package away from women. The Affordable Care Act is ensuring that women are not discriminated against in health care," stated Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation.
Although not a part of today's announcement, we want to emphasize that women students at religiously-affiliated universities will also have access to birth control without co-pays or deductibles from their insurance plans provided by insurance companies.
The Affordable Care Act preventive care package now includes the following without co-pays or deductibles: approved contraceptives both for birth control and for treatment of several illnesses, as well as annual well-woman visits and cancer screenings, counseling, such as for domestic and interpersonal violence, testing for HIV and STIs, breastfeeding support, and lactation services and supplies.
2/9/2012 - Catholic Students for Women's Health Hold Press Conference to Support Birth Control
More information is forthcoming. View video of the event. You can find the press kit here:
Media Advisory
AU Students for Choice Press Release
Catholic Students for Women's Health Press Release
Catholic University Students Press Release
George Washington University Students Press Release
Georgetown Law Students for Reproductive Justice
Hoyas for Choice Press Release
Joint Statement from Faith Groups
Public Religion Research Institute Survey
Raising Women's Voices Blog Post
2/9/2012 - Catholic Students Stand Up for Women's Health
Students spoke out today in favor of birth control access on college campuses in response to pressure from Catholic bishops to restrict contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Students from Catholic University of America, Georgetown University, Georgetown Law School, American University, and Fordham University spoke at the press conference this morning in Washington, D.C. in support of the Obama administration's inclusion of birth control coverage without co-pays and deductibles under the ACA. Recognizing that the debate has largely excluded the voices of young women, the very people most affected by this inclusion, the students spoke about their own personal stories and how important it is to them and the women on their campus to have full and equal access to women's health services.
Students pledged to continue organizing around birth control access on their campuses with petition drives and a Valentine's Day campaign targeting Congress. "We will not back down because we believe that the religious freedom of individual Catholics and students, no matter what their faith, and the need for comprehensive women's healthcare must take priority to the demands of the Catholic Bishops," said Callie Otto, of Catholic University.
Sandra Fluke, of Georgetown Law Students for Reproductive Justice, stated, "At Georgetown Law, I and other women have struggled with a lack of contraceptive coverage that causes financial, medical, and emotional burdens. Unable to afford the $3,000 this costs students over their law school tenure, some women have gone without contraception, risking pregnancy and avoidable abortions. Others have spent hours in clinics, missing class, trying to find affordable birth control. In the worst cases, women who needed this medication for other medical reasons have suffered dire consequences. Just one example of many is a friend of mine. Her inability to access these prescriptions caused the loss of her ovary. These burdens are not shared by our male student colleagues."
Under the Preventive Care package of the ACA, all FDA-approved contraceptives will be covered without co-pays or deductibles, as will a variety of other health services, such as annual well-woman visits, cancer screenings, counseling, such as for domestic and interpersonal violence, and testing for HIV and STIs. The Obama administration has exempted from birth control coverage employers at some 335,000 houses of worship. Despite pressure from Catholic Bishops to expand the religious exemptions, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced in January that employees and students at religiously-affiliated institutions would have access to complete birth control coverage.
2/8/2012 - Santorum Revives Campaign, Touts Anti-Contraceptive Position
Yesterday Rick Santorum won the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses, as well as a nonbinding Missouri primary. All three races are considered largely symbolic given that no delegates were determined for the states last night. These are the first victories for Santorum since the Iowa caucuses on January 3.
Rick Santorum has been under fire for his statements opposing contraception. He has indicated that he is opposed not only to abortion but wants to repeal Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) and allow states to ban birth control access. Moreover, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich have signed an extreme anti- reproductive rights and health pledge indicating that they support state constitutional personhood amendments, which would give constitutional rights to a fertilized egg. The personhood amendments could also ban emergency contraception, birth control pills, and IUDs the amendment as well as all abortions, even in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. It could even eliminate medical choices for women like some cancer treatments, and in vitro fertilization.
Although Romney did not sign the Personhood USA pledge, he has indicated in an interview that he also supports "life" from the moment of conception.
2/8/2012 - VA Bill Could Ban Same-Sex Couples from Adopting
Late last week, a bill that would enable state-funded private adoption agencies in Virginia to refuse placements on the basis of their religious or moral beliefs, including banning placements with same-sex couples passed the state House of Delegates by a vote of 71 to 28. The Virginia Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee also endorse the bill, and it is likely to appear on the state Senate floor for a vote this week. Republican Governor Bob McDonnell indicated that he would sign the bill, if it is passed by the Republican-controlled Senate.
Leslie Cooper, an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), stated, "It's a license for child welfare agencies to make bad decisions based on their own religious beliefs rather than the child's needs."
Senator Mark Herring (D-Loudoun) criticized the bill on the grounds that the private agencies contract with the state government and thus as recipients of state funding, should not be permitted to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.
Senator Creigh Deeds (D-Charlottesville) added, "I will listen to the arguments and try to understand what the rationale behind it is...but I'm not include to support discrimination or use of tax dollars to support discrimination." If the bill becomes law, Virginia would be the second state, following North Dakota, to allow private agencies to refuse placements on the basis sexual orientation.
