Be My Galentine
Today…
…the House is scheduled to vote on an resolution that would eliminate the deadline for passing the ERA. It’s good, I’m glad, but, y’know.
…is National Tortellini Day. Carbs and cheese might not fix everything, but I’m going to give ‘em a chance to try.
A few items that stood out for me today…
Interesting: Investors push companies to make business case on abortion. “Shareholder groups that have won corporate boardroom concessions on climate change and diversity are beginning to press corporations on women’s reproductive health issues” in a generally positive way, and apparently for the first time (to this degree) since Roe.
Yet another study showing that straight women would do well to stop joking about needing a wife and make it happen: How to Make Your Marriage Gayer
Whole headlines on the disarray within my org is my personal and professional nightmare: Decriminalizing Sex Work Is Dividing America's Largest Feminist Group.
This one stood up, yelled, kicked me in the shins. It’s everywhere: The U.S. men’s soccer team slammed the U.S. Soccer Federation for low-balling the women’s team, called for their pay to be tripled. In AP, Reuters, ESPN, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report, The18…
Abortion
Investors push companies to make business case on abortion
Laura Weiss, Roll Call
Shareholder groups that have won corporate boardroom concessions on climate change and diversity are beginning to press corporations on women’s reproductive health issues, as the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments in a case that could fundamentally alter abortion rights in the United States.
Is Abortion the Litmus Test for Democrats Today?
Arun Venugopal, Meg Dalton, The Takeaway
At Friday’s Democratic debate in New Hampshire, almost all the candidates on stage went out of their way to reaffirm their support of abortion. But during past elections, presidential candidates weren’t so explicit in their support of the issue. They used softer language when talking about abortion, emphasizing the need to make it “rare,” in an effort to appeal to all voters including those who oppose abortion rights.
Should men speak up about abortion? Storyteller Renee Bracey Sherman says yes
Renee Bracey Sherman, Playboy
Here’s one simple fact about abortion: everyone loves someone who’s had one. It’s a very common procedure but because of the way society shames people who choose to end a pregnancy we are often talked about as an abstract concept rather than as people in your own communities, friend circles and families.
Meet the Lawyers Fighting for Abortion Rights All the Way Up to the Supreme Court
Danielle Campoamor, InStyle
The ACLU is currently handling 17 abortion-related cases at the state and federal levels across the country. The five women interviewed here are waging that fight alone but represent a team of 14 lawyers who make up the RFP. (They tell us there is one man on the team, and he’s wonderful.)
Senate Republicans Go All-In on Lies About Later Abortion Care
Jo Yurcaba, Rewire.News
The Republican U.S. Senate legislation is "a vehicle for false narratives and inflammatory language" around later abortions, said Dr. Kristyn Brandi, board chair of Physicians for Reproductive Health.
Abortion-Rights Supporters Fear Loss Of Access If Adventist Saves Hospital
Amy Littlefield, California Healthline
For more than two years, physician assistant Dawn Hofberg fought to bring access to abortions back to California’s Mendocino Coast, a picturesque stretch of shoreline about three hours north of San Francisco and 90 minutes from the nearest facility offering abortions. But Hofberg and others worry that the community’s newly won abortion access could be in peril.
Offering free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, crisis pregnancy centers try to 'slow down' thoughts of abortion in an ultimate quest to stop it
Samantha Wohlfeil, The Inlander
Crisis pregnancy centers are gaining popularity, buoyed by the pro-life movement. Using private donors and, in some cases, public money, volunteers operate thousands of centers around the country. While operating under far less scrutiny than the medical health centers they vastly outnumber, the movement's mobile clinic vans and brick-and-mortar pregnancy centers often locate as close as possible to clinics that offer abortion, in part to divert women on their way there.
Equal Rights Amendment
Equal Rights Amendment on verge of House revival, led by Rep. Jackie Speier
Dustin Gardiner
San Francisco Chronicle
Nearly four decades after opponents of the Equal Rights Amendment declared the effort dead, House Democrats led by San Mateo Rep. Jackie Speier will vote Thursday to revive the fight. The House will take up Speier’s bill to remove Congress’ 1982 deadline for states’ ratification of the constitutional amendment guaranteeing “equality of rights under the law,” regardless of sex.
House to vote to allow ratification of Equal Rights Amendment for women
Maureen Groppe, USA Today
The House is expected to vote Thursday to remove the 1982 deadline for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment women, a move that will be mostly symbolic as the Senate is not expected to follow suit and the ability of Congress to change the deadline has not been tested in the courts. The vote comes weeks after Virginia became the 38th – and potentially pivotal – state to ratify the amendment.
LGBTQ
Christian Rights Group Sues To Stop Transgender Girls From Competing As Girls In School Sports
Dawn Ennis, Forbes
Lawyers from an advocacy organization that’s been labeled an anti-LGBT hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a lawsuit in federal court to block transgender girls from competing as girls in school sports.
Opinion | How to Make Your Marriage Gayer
Stephanie Coontz, The New York Times
It’s been legal across the country for nearly five years now, and same-sex marriage hasn’t yet killed heterosexual marriage. In fact, it appears that many different-sex couples would have happier and more satisfying marriages if they took a few lessons from their same-sex counterparts.
Virginia Pastor's Anti-Gay, Anti-Choice Screed Prompts Dem Lawmakers To Walk Out During Statehouse Prayer
Chris Walker, Hill Reporter
Virginia lawmakers in the state House of Delegates — mostly Democrats but reportedly some Republicans, too — walked out of an invocation prayer on Tuesday because its themes were notably anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion.
Birth Control
Why We're Skeptical of Conservative Support for Over-the-Counter Contraception
Sarah Christopherson, Rewire.News
Should we be thrilled that conservatives are embracing over-the-counter access for birth control? When something seems to be too good to be true, it usually is.
Time has come for over-the-counter hormonal birth control
Dr. Julie Kwatra, Arizona Capitol Times
Women need easy and reliable access to birth control. As physicians, we want our patients to safely access these important medications without unnecessary restrictions. Current law requires patients to have an appointment with a health care provider to start or continue birth control pills, patches, and vaginal rings. This prevents many women from using these methods, especially poor women and those who live in rural areas.
Arizona women could soon get birth control medication without a prescription
Maria Polletta, Arizona Republic
Women may soon be able to buy birth control pills, patches and rings at Arizona pharmacies without first having to visit their doctor.
30,000 more Michigan women would get access to family planning in Whitmer’s budget
Emily Lawler, MLive
A new initiative focusing on baby and maternal health would expand Medicaid family planning services to 30,000 Michigan women, according to a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Part of Whitmer’s budget introduced last week is a new, $37.5 “Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies” initiative. It would expand Medicaid family planning benefits to cover women of child-bearing age up to 200 percent of the poverty level.
Reproductive Health & Justice
The Reproductive Justice Gap at HBCUs
Miranda Perez, The Nation
Some HBCUs, founded privately on Christian principles, have become deserts of sexual health resources—and students want that to change.
For Young Black Women Like Me, Reproductive Health Has A Troubling History
Ciarra Jones, Elite Daily
As a young Black woman dealing with my reproductive health, my tale of ignored pain and misdiagnosis isn’t uncommon: Research suggests medical providers often falsely believe Black patients have a higher pain threshold than our white counterparts, which results in misdiagnoses and lack of treatment.
New York lawmakers introduce bill to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage
Bethany Bump, Albany Times Union
New York lawmakers joined with medical groups on Wednesday to urge passage of a bill that would extend Medicaid coverage for women up to one year after they give birth.
Photographer Is Raising Awareness of the Increased Maternal and Fetal Mortality Rate in Black Communities
Murphy Moroney, POPSUGAR
Elaine Baca, a documentary and lifestyle photographer from Dallas, has always loved capturing families' most tender moments. After starting her business, she jumped into birth photography, but it wasn't until she met Tereé and Kennasha, the midwives at My Sister's Keeper — an organization dedicated to helping Black women have a positive birth experience — that she really began to work with Black moms-to-be in the community.
Workplace Equality
Paid family and medical leave supporters say statewide program good for business, employees
Susan Tebben, Ohio Capital Journal
The effect of a lack of paid family leave on small businesses and women of color were significant issues brought up in the second hearing on a bill to provide a statewide leave program. A small businessowner and mother argued that paid family and medical leave made good business sense, but wasn’t always affordable for the many small businesses in Ohio.
Bill proposes state-run family leave insurance in Ohio
Andrew Long, WCMH-TV
Lawmakers at the Ohio Statehouse are considering a bill that would create a state-run paid family leave insurance program. The program would grant up to 12 weeks of paid family leave to men and women who have a newborn, adopt a child, or in the case of serious health condition find they must care for themselves or a loved one.
America's Lack of Paid Parental Leave Is a Nightmare. So I Did Something About It.
Mandy Hakimi, Kveller
I never intended to start a nonprofit. But when, as a new mom, I found myself at home with my first child, facing stress from a lack of paid maid maternity leave, I realized I had to do something. I have many friends all over the world whose postpartum experiences were very different (i.e. better) than what we experience here in the U.S. But I didn’t realize just how much better until I was postpartum myself.