Did you think we'd crumble?
Today is…
100 years since the Supreme Court upheld the 19th Amendment. I could spend the whole day down that endless rabbit hole, so will just nod to one headline I liked: The 19th amendment was a crucial achievement. But it wasn’t enough to liberate women.
40 years since Gloria Gaynor won the first and only Grammy awarded for Best Disco Recording.
National Kahlua Day, Chili Day and Strawberry Day. Practically your whole Thursday menu, right there.
Though I swore I wasn’t gonna get into international news, between friends and Google, I was sent this article maybe 57 times. Period poverty: The Scottish parliament approved plans make sanitary products free for all women, U.S. could be next. And not to pooh-pooh just ‘cause I’m all IUD n’ period-free, but “could be next” is doing an awful lot of work here.
Abortion
Abortion Clinics Are the Most Challenging Small Business in America
Cynthia Koons & Rebecca Greenfield, Bloomberg News
Even in a liberal city like Austin, Whole Woman’s Health owner Amy Hagstrom Miller had to tour more than 80 places before she found an appropriate site whose owner was willing to rent to her. She estimates that the relocation cost $100,000—all part of what she calls the “abortion tax,” a litany of extra, often unforeseen expenses providers must pay to open and operate. There’s security to protect staff and patients. Airfare to get doctors to areas lacking trained physicians willing to perform abortions. Higher rates for contractors concerned about protesters and boycotts. More stringent loan terms. Insurance can be canceled unexpectedly, and replacement plans can have higher premiums. And for some clinic owners, there are legal fees for defending the constitutionality of the procedure.
How an online search for abortion pills landed this woman in jail
Lauren Rankin, Fast Company
Internet search histories can give law enforcement a supposed map to your intent. In Fisher’s case, her internet search results gave prosecutors a motive—if she wanted to be pregnant, why was she looking up medication abortion? District Attorney Scott Colom ultimately accused Fisher of purchasing misoprostol online and trying to induce her own abortion, resulting in the death of her child.
The Real Challenges of Exercising the Right to an Abortion-and What You Can Do About It
Carole Joffe & David Cohen, Ms. Magazine
For almost half a century, every American woman has had the constitutional right to an abortion. But—as U.C. San Francisco sociologist Carole Joffe and Drexel law professor David S. Cohen show in their new book, Obstacle Course: The Everyday Struggle to Get an Abortion in America—the reality of exercising one’s reproductive rights is riddled with hurdles designed by anti-abortion activists and politicians.
Mitch McConnell's efforts to restrict abortion won't end until his control of the Senate does
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, NBC Think
This week the Senate will not be taking up legislation to lower health care or prescription drug costs. Nor will we be allowed to vote on bills to combat the opioid epidemic. Sadly, we also will not address climate change, raising wages or any of the other critical kitchen table issues calling out for our attention.
No, It's Not Medically Possible to ‘Reverse’ Abortions
Tara Haelle, SELF Magazine
No matter what you’ve heard, there is no solid science backing up the idea that you can “reverse” an abortion. In fact, a recent study aiming to investigate abortion pill “reversal”—trying to stop a medical abortion midway and instead continue the pregnancy—shows that not only is there no evidence the procedure works, but attempting to reverse a medical abortion can actually be dangerous.
People Are Panicking As They Wait for Abortion Pills Stuck in US Customs
Marie Solis, VICE
Tara* has health insurance. Her health insurance even covers abortion—something of a rarity, considering that 11 states have laws restricting coverage of the procedure in private insurance plans, and 26 states restrict coverage in plans sold under the Affordable Care Act.
Opinion | No, abortion providers aren’t craven opportunists. They care for their patients.
David Cohen & Carole Joffe, Washington Post
In June Medical v. Russo, Louisiana is arguing that abortion providers don’t have the best interests of their patients in mind and therefore shouldn’t have standing to bring lawsuits on their behalf. That’s simply not true.
How Georgia’s Blocked 6-Week Abortion Ban Is Already Affecting Clinics
Neesha Powell-Twagirumukiza, Rewire.News
Even though HB 481 has yet to take effect, clinics that provide abortions in Georgia have been inundated with calls from people who worry the procedure is illegal or that they'll be criminalized for obtaining one.
Medicaid paid for 4 abortions in Kansas since January 2013
AP
Medicaid has paid for four abortions in Kansas since January 2013, which by law can only be covered in cases of rape, incest or danger to the mother’s life, state health department data show. Data from the state Department of Health and Environment showed that the one abortion in 2014 and three in 2018 cost the public a total of $1,030, including $454 that came specifically from Kansas taxpayers.
New York Taxpayers Could Soon Donate to Abortion Access
Erin Heger, Rewire.News
A proposed bill in the state legislature would let New Yorkers use their tax returns to help people access abortion care. The New York Department of Health would manage the fund and distribute the money to nonprofit groups providing logistical and financial assistance to people seeking abortion care.
LGBTQ
Transgender women are nearly always incarcerated with men. That's putting many in danger.
Kate Sosin, NBC News
Out of 4,890 transgender state prisoners, NBC News was able to confirm only 15 cases in which a prisoner was housed according to their lived gender.
Missouri lawmaker wants to make it easy for parents to sue their local school if kids are ‘subjected to’ anything LGBTQ
David Badash, RawStory
A Missouri state lawmaker is pushing a bill that would make it easy for parents to sue schools if their children are “subjected to” anything LGBTQ. Rep. Chuck Basye wants parents to have total control over what their children see in school, even if it’s not part of the curriculum. The bill is in response to a poster a GSA – gay-straight alliance club – put up without getting approval from all the students’ parents.
South Carolina students sue state over its anti-LGBTQ health education law
John Riley, Metro Weekly
A group of LGBTQ students and supportive organizations has sued the state of South Carolina over a law that prohibits public school health education courses from including any discussion of homosexuality or same-sex relationships — except in the context of sexually transmitted diseases.
Lawmakers officially pass 'Virginia Values Act' to prohibit LGBTQ discrimination
WHSV-TV (Harrisonburg, VA)
Virginia lawmakers have passed a bill to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the commonwealth's anti-discrimination law.
Reproductive Health & Justice
Alabama lawmakers to consider these 12 bills affecting women
Abbey Crain, Al.com
From sexual assault reporting reform to maternal mortality, from trans rights to more abortion legislation, there are plenty of issues for women to advocate for or against. I’ve compiled a list of bills directly impacting women, the sponsor of those bills and the sponsor’s contact information.
Alabama students could get free period products under proposed bill
Sydney Stallworth, WZDX-TV (Huntsville, AL)
A bill has been introduced this session that would ensure Alabama students have access to free feminine hygiene products in school.
Connecticut students testify in favor of bill requiring middle and high school bathrooms to carry free menstrual products
Amanda Blanco, Hartford Courant
Connecticut high school students are pushing legislators to support a bill that would require all middle and high school bathrooms to carry free menstrual products.
Planned Parenthood of Northern N.E. continues to subsidize health care after federal cuts
Becca Amen, Middlebury Campus
Last August, Planned Parenthood of North New England withdrew from federal funding agreements due to Title X rule changes. Although the Middlebury office does not perform abortions, it lost funding as a member of the PPNNE network. After the Trump administration enacted updates last August to Title X funding stipulations in a move to severely limit access to abortion care, Vermont refused to yield.
Workplace Equality
MSNBC Urged to Fire Chris Matthews for 'Refusal to Believe Women' Over Bloomberg During Warren Interview
Ewan Palmer, Newsweek
A woman's rights advocacy group is calling on MSNBC to fire host Chris Matthews after he repeatedly confronted Elizabeth Warren about her criticism of Mike Bloomberg and cast doubt on claims made by a former female employee that he pressured her into having an abortion. UltraViolet is urging that the network fire Matthews after he appeared to defend the billionaire former New York mayor over the harassment claims while interviewing fellow 2020 hopeful Warren.
Why Elizabeth Warren’s Pregnancy Discrimination Story Is A Major Economic Issue
Jennifer Gerson, Refinery29
Despite mothers being the primary or co-breadwinners in 40% of American families, discrimination against pregnant women and mothers in the workplace is still prevalent. From 2006 to 2016 alone, lawsuits involving women who need accommodations at work while pregnant increased by 315%. And, the hits women endure as a result of choosing to become working parents don’t end there. Women are also reported to lose 4% of their hourly wages for every child they have, too.
Can Transparency Laws Fix the Gender Wage Gap?
Harvard Business Review
Despite progress in technology, education, and workers’ rights, there continues to be a substantial difference in pay between male and female workers, even among those in similar jobs. While there are various hypotheses to explain this gender pay gap, academics and policy-makers increasingly support the view that it persists, in part, because workers often do not know what their coworkers earn.
Why Unpaid Leave Means ‘No Leave’ For Many New Parents In Colorado
Andrew Kenney, Colorado Public Radio
The last weeks of Jenna Riley’s pregnancy were painful -- extremely painful. She felt it every time she struggled up the stairs of her second-floor condo in Aurora, and all through the hours she worked on her feet each day. She was carrying twins and suffering from preeclampsia, a potentially dangerous pregnancy condition. But she didn’t want to give birth a day before it was necessary.
Opinion: Iowa has fallen behind on rights for pregnant workers
Thomas Leslie, Des Moines Register
Our state legislators have the opportunity to strengthen Iowa families’ economic security by reintroducing this bill, and they should take it.
NYC Council Moves Bill to Require More Reporting on City Efforts to Address Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
Katie Kirker, Gotham Gazette
The NYC Council is set to pass a bill requiring more reporting from mayoral agencies “on efforts to prevent and address sex- and gender-based discrimination and harassment.” The bill, which passed the Council’s Committee on Women and Gender Equity Tuesday and is likely to pass the full Council on Thursday, deals with the city’s Commission on Gender Equity (CGE) and the Department of Education.
Paid family leave is a smart policy
Ben MacShane, Frederick News Post
As the owner of Principled Contracting, I’ve learned that taking care of my bottom line and taking care of my employees and their families aren’t mutually exclusive. I’ve learned that growing my business and helping my workers though their toughest times aren’t competing interests. I’ve learned that my people take the best care of our projects and job sites during the workday when they are able to take care of their homes and families at night.