How I learned to stop worrying
Today is…
Take Your Family To School Week – but that I could, PTA, but this week is spring break #1 of 2 for DC Public Schools.
Random Acts of Kindness Day.
Last week of session for New Mexico.
I have to give it a closer read – it’s long – but this David Brooks piece got me where I live. Literally.
Parenting & Caregiving
The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake
David Brooks, The Atlantic
If you want to summarize the changes in family structure over the past century, the truest thing to say is this: We’ve made life freer for individuals and more unstable for families. We’ve made life better for adults but worse for children. We’ve moved from big, interconnected, and extended families, which helped protect the most vulnerable people in society from the shocks of life, to smaller, detached nuclear families (a married couple and their children), which give the most privileged people in society room to maximize their talents and expand their options. The shift from bigger and interconnected extended families to smaller and detached nuclear families ultimately led to a familial system that liberates the rich and ravages the working-class and the poor.
People Caught Between Rock And Hard Place When Caring For Loved Ones
Christian Weller, Forbes
As our population gets older, our policy support system for dealing with the caregiving challenges has been woefully inadequate. The FMLA is almost three decades old and was a good start, but it was not nearly enough. As a result, many working-age families, especially those who are financially vulnerable to begin with, are often making sacrifices in job to help and are getting financially squeezed in the process. Designing a stronger and more comprehensive financial support system for caregivers will ease the financial risks of this labor of love.
Abortion
Senate Republicans Want to Protect Babies ‘Born Alive’ After an Abortion. That Doesn’t Happen.
Carter Sherman, VICE
Abortion politics are, to put it lightly, contentious. But in the coming weeks, the Senate will vote on what may be their third rail: abortions that occur late in pregnancy.
The Absurd Lie of ‘Pro-Choice Violence’
Lauren Rankin, The Cut
Anti-abortion violence has been a real, present danger for decades. In the past few years, zealots have committed acts of targeted harassment, assault, and attempted arson at health-care providers; in the 1990s, extremists murdered several providers in their places of work, in church, and in their own homes. Under Trump, instances have clinic harassment, threats against providers, and vandalism have skyrocketed.
In response to abortion restrictions, Alabama lawmaker's bill would require vasectomies
Kelly Mena, CNN
An Alabama Democratic lawmaker has a unique response to a recent law limiting abortion rights in the state: require men to undergo vasectomies either when they hit 50 or have three children.
Anti-abortion group flips views on new Georgia senator
Ben Nadler, WJXT-TV (Jacksonville, FL)
An influential anti-abortion group is backing Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia in her November special election, only months after opposing her appointment to the post.
Equal Rights Amendment
Will the Equal Rights Amendment ever become law?
Ray Levy-Uyeda, Mic
While we're closer now than we've been in a while, it's unclear still whether the ERA will ever get over the finish line.
LGBTQ
It’s 2020 and these state lawmakers are still trying to ban same-sex marriage
Juwan Holmes, LGBTQ Nation
Four Republicans in Colorado introduced laws this month in an effort to ban same-sex marriage. They also introduced other bills which are described as “the largest and most alarming set of anti-LGBTQ proposals in years.”
Megan Youngren Will Be The First Openly Transgender Athlete To Compete At The U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials
Leah Groth, Scary Mommy
Megan Youngren, 28, will compete for the 2020 U.S. Olympic marathon trials on February 29.
LGBT Groups Object to Federal Lawsuit That Seeks to Reverse Trans-Inclusive School Athletic Policies
Asher Stockler, Newsweek
A new federal lawsuit seeking to challenge trans-inclusive school athletic policies is receiving backlash from LGBT organizations, who view the action as the latest maneuver in a string of public attacks on transgender students.
LGBTQ Activists, Gov. Walz, Demand 'Conversion Therapy' Ban in Minnesota
Steve Karnowski, Associated Press
Gov. Tim Walz and LGBTQ activists rallied at the state Capitol on Friday to demand that the Republican-controlled Minnesota Senate pass a ban on “conversion therapy” for minors, a discredited practice that seeks to turn gay people straight.
LGBTQ Tennesseans are 'saddened,' 'disappointed' by new adoption law
Julie Compton, NBC News
An adoption bill signed last month by Tennessee’s Republican governor, Bill Lee, allows private adoption and foster care agencies to continue receiving taxpayer funds even if they exclude LGBTQ prospective parents and others who do not meet the agency’s religious criteria. Tennessee is now one of 11 states to permit state-licensed child welfare agencies to refuse services to queer people and same-sex couples.
Birth Control
Opinion | Eugenics is trending. That’s a problem.
Caitlin Fendley, Washington Post
The idea that people should reproduce less to preserve our shared resources is nothing new. It is an old idea with a violent history. When reformers have encouraged — or forced — women to have fewer children in the name of population control, it has been the most vulnerable people and those most likely to be deemed undesirable or unfit who have paid the price.
And its unintentional companion piece…
This group says we need fewer humans. It's giving out condoms featuring endangered animals
Sarah Bowman, Indianapolis Star
Nothing quite says "Will you be my valentine?" like condoms with pictures of endangered species on them. But the Center for Biological Diversity says they should be right up there among the flowers and chocolates.
New Arizona bill allows women to get birth control without a doctor visit
Erica Stapleton, KPNX-TV (Phoenix, AZ)
“We want to reduce barriers and increase access and that’s what this bill really does,” explains Dr. Julie Kwatra, with Arizona Women's Care in Scottsdale. She's talking about Senate Bill 1493, which would allow women 18 and older to access certain kinds of birth control without seeing a doctor or having a prescription.
WV legislators cite constituents' experiences in backing better access to birth control
Lacie Pierson, Charleston Gazette-Mail
Legislators on Friday approved two measures that would make birth control more accessible to women in West Virginia. At least one of the bills legislators passed Friday was crafted as part of an effort to prevent unwanted pregnancies for women suffering from substance abuse. Senators approved Senate Bill 288 in a 31-0 vote, with three senators absent.
Reproductive Health & Justice
658 women died from pregnancy-related causes in 2018. Most of them were Black
Colleen De Bellefonds, Well+Good
Every year in the United States, nearly 700 women die of pregnancy-related complications. For every one of those deaths, approximately 100 more almost die. Maternal mortality—death during pregnancy or within 42 days after delivery—is the sixth most common cause of death among American women ages 25 years to 34 years old. Within those disturbing statistics lies even worse ones.
Planned Parenthood, state argue Iowa's sex education law legality
David Pitt, Telegraph Herald
A state court judge on Friday heard arguments on whether to dismiss a lawsuit challenging an Iowa law passed last year that would block Planned Parenthood of the Heartland from receiving federal grant money for sex education courses.
Kansas GOP leaders' fight over abortion, Medicaid escalates
John Hanna, Associated Press
A political dispute between the Kansas Senate’s top two Republicans over abortion and Medicaid expansion has escalated. Senate President Susan Wagle distributed an editorial to newspapers across the state this weekend defending her decision earlier this month to block a bipartisan Medicaid expansion plan drafted by Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.
Opinion | Holding Medicaid expansion in Kansas hostage to abortion amendment could be deadly
Mae Winchester, Kansas City Star
I am a physician, not a politician. While I may not understand the intricacies of amending a state constitution, I do understand the impact that the proposed abortion amendment that was defeated in the Kansas House of Representatives last week would have had on my patients.
Doula bill faces problems in Maryland General Assembly
Heather Mongilio, Frederick News Post
A bill that could make doula services covered by Medicaid continues to face challenges from opponents and advocates who applauded the bill’s intention but question the logistics. Sen. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles) submitted the bill to include doulas under Maryland Medical Assistance as a way to address racial disparities in maternal mortality in the state.
Virginia emerges as South progressive leader under Democrats
Alan Suderman & Sarah Rankin, Associated Press
In a state once synonymous with the Old South, Democrats are using their newfound legislative control to refashion Virginia as the region's progressive leader on racial, social and economic issues.
Workplace Equality
Inside Mike Bloomberg’s years-long battle against women’s allegations of profane, sexist comments
Michael Kranish, The Washington Post
As Mike Bloomberg celebrated his 48th birthday in 1990, a top aide at the company he founded presented him with a booklet of profane, sexist quotes she attributed to him. A good salesperson is like a man who tries to pick up women at a bar by saying, “Do you want to f---? He gets turned down a lot — but he gets f----- a lot, too!” Bloomberg was quoted in the booklet as saying.
I Spoke Out Against Sexual Harassment at Uber. The Aftermath Was Terrifying
Susan Fowler, Time Magazine
In February 2017, I published a blog post about my experiences with sexual harassment and gender discrimination at Uber, where I had recently left my role as a software engineer. In it, I described a year of employment that began with a sexual proposition from my manager and only grew more demeaning and demoralizing from there. The post quickly went viral, tapping into a conversation about systemic discrimination throughout Silicon Valley.
States Adopt 'Bring Baby to Work' Plans But Lag on Paid Leave
Elaine Povich, Stateline
State governments in Arizona, Kansas, Nevada, North Dakota and Washington allow some version of the babies in the workplace program. Arizona has hosted nearly 400 babies in state agency offices, according to the governor’s office. Supporters say baby-to-work programs help parents balance their work and family responsibilities. But critics say they can allow public and private sector employers to sidestep more substantial benefits.
Why a national paid leave policy would benefit small employers (like me)
Tony Sandkamp, Salon
Small employers generally don't have the capital and scale to provide paid leave to their employees. The lack of a national paid leave program hands the advantage to large corporations that can use their size and market power to offer such benefits, resulting in a hiring disadvantage for small business. We can change this picture.
The Push For Paid Family Leave Grows Stronger
Maureen McKinney, WCBU-FM (Peoria, IL)
As national debate on government-mandated paid family leave continues, lawmakers in Illinois say they want it enacted here.
Opinion | Paid parental leave builds great families
Roger Sherman, Idaho Press
Kudos to Governor Little for issuing the executive order to provide for paid parental leave for state employees. This order will impact the 25,000 state employees who work for the executive branch of state government, the largest workforce in the state. Paid parental leave will have another impact: It will help to strengthen families and prevent child abuse.
Opinion | How investing in preschool and child care will grow Kentucky's economy
Sarah Davasher-Wisdom & Theresa Reno Weber, The Courier-Journal
Policymakers in Frankfort have taken great strides to secure a better future for Kentucky by investing in our children. We have seen improvements to early learning opportunities, reforms to child welfare systems, and increased funding for K-12 education. Policies like these lead to stronger communities and a stronger Kentucky economy. But we know that much more remains to be done.
Proposed Ohio bill would offer state-run paid family leave
WBNS-TV (Columbus, OH)
Eight states have legislation that pays for people to take family leave for a newborn, adoption and to care for a loved one. Ohio wants to join the list. House Bill 91 would create the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program. The bill is co-sponsored by State Representative Kirstin Boggs (D-Columbus) and State Representative Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland).
Governor Cuomo advancing legislation to eliminate pink tax
Jack Summers, WTEN-TV (Albany, NY)
In the early 1990s, several studies reported disparities between the costs of substantially similar goods and services depending on if they were marketed for men or for women. To address these disparities, the Governor will advance legislation to prohibit gender-based pricing discrimination for substantially similar or like kind goods and services. The legislation will require certain service providers to post price lists for standard services.
Title X
Dating violence, stalking could be considered gender discrimination on college campuses
Nikki Ogle, KSPR-TV (Springfield, MO)
Domestic violence cases on college campuses may soon fall under a different category. Potential changes could come from the U.S. Department of Education in the form of Title IX rules. The changes would require all universities to change domestic violence, dating violence and stalking to gender discrimination cases.
Opinion | In Betsy DeVos’ new Title IX rules, there is a little hope
Katie Dames, The Daily Mississippian
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos recently proposed rollbacks on essential Title IX protections, which coincides with a federal court case that also limits universities’ ability to protect victims of sexual assault. However, with the bundle of dangerous deregulations comes one major improvement: the new Title IX rules reclassify dating violence, domestic violence and stalking as gender discrimination, meaning that these offenses will carry the same weight as sexual assault claims on college campuses. In other words, students now have more legal protection against intimate partner violence.