Joe & Jill went up the Hill
What can I say. It’s been a busy morning. Yesterday, the children were both up and talking to me at 4am. Today I had to spend an hour prying them from their beds in time for Summer Bridge and Outschool classes.
On a brighter note, we have this.
And we have each other. Perhaps we can even add to our numbers, hm?
Kamala For The People
Kamala Harris and the Growing Political Power of Black Women
Melanye Price | The New York Times
Millions of Black women and their political labor have made this historic moment possible.
AP | ‘If not now, when?’: Black women seize political spotlight
Washington Post | Kamala Harris’ selection as VP resonates with Black women
How sexism is going to make Kamala Harris’s life harder
Amber Phillips | Washington Post
Here’s a reality: As Joe Biden’s vice-presidential pick, Sen. Kamala D. Harris is certain to face sexism during this campaign. And based on what we know from research about women in politics, it will manifest in some subtle and not-so-subtle ways — from her opponents, yes, but also from voters who may not realize the gender-specific expectations they put on female candidates.
Kamala Harris' Nomination Is A Historic Moment — So Why Does It Feel So Compromised?
Natalie Gontcharova | Refinery29
For many people — including many Democrats — Biden’s candidacy is already compromised because of his record on issues like banking and crime and treatment of women. To some, Biden’s offering of what is arguably the second-highest position of power in the country feels like handing out crumbs, and the reasons for that are both straightforward and frustrating.
History has its eyes on her
Washington Post | Harris is the pick, but women of color remain underrepresented in government
Time Magazine | Kamala Harris Is the Third Woman to Run as a Vice Presidential Candidate for a Major U.S. Party. Here's What to Know About the First
The Conversation | Before Kamala Harris became Biden's running mate, Shirley Chisholm and other Black women aimed for the White House
AP | Sarah Palin offers running mate advice to Harris (To be fair, there’s some good stuff in here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDw4cYTgSDv/)
Refinery29 | Sarah Palin Gave Us Plenty Of Things To Criticize That Weren't Related To Her Gender
Abortion
Arkansas
Arkansas to implement first-of-their-kind abortion restrictions later this month
Kate Smith | CBS News
A handful of first-of-their-kind abortion regulations could be implemented this month in Arkansas, a federal court ruled Friday afternoon. The decision could further restrict how patients access the procedure in a state that's been aggressive in legislating abortion.
Nebraska
🠲 Property tax, abortion bills set for final votes in Nebraska
Grant Schulte | AP
Nebraska lawmakers advanced new abortion restrictions through a key procedural vote on Tuesday. They now head to a final, third vote on Thursday, the session’s final day, and will then go to Gov. Pete Ricketts, who is expected to sign them.
NO, huskers.
Texas
Austin considers increasing abortion services funding in new budget
Ryan Autullo |Austin American-Statesman
While facing a pair of lawsuits, the city of Austin is prepared to double down on an effort to circumvent a state law that prohibits local governments from funding abortions.
LGBTQ
Streisand/Summer number-one hit used to soundtrack new ad urging LGBTQ people to vote
Andrea Dresdale | ABC
Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer teamed up in 1979 for the number-one duet "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)." Now, the song is being used in a new ad urging the LGBTQ community to vote.
Just a good reason to listen to a good song.
HRC's Alphonso David is Fighting for Black Queer Lives at the Polls
Trudy Ring | The Advocate
The activist and president of the Human Rights Campaign is putting his efforts on the future of queer Americans.
Trump Rules, Supreme Court Case Put Transgender Rights in Limbo
Noah Feldman | Bloomberg
We’re in one of those weird periods of time where some discrimination against a particular group has been rendered unlawful, while other forms of discrimination are in a confusing twilight zone.
‘Cured’ Trailer: Docu Chronicles Fight Against American Psychiatric Association Labeling Homosexuality As Mental Illness
Dino-Ray Ramos | Deadline Hollywood
Cured directors Patrick Sammon and Bennett Singer shed light on the seldom-told story of the LGBTQ activists who went toe-to-toe against the APA to remove homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses.
Liberty University taps an anti-LGBTQ extremist to replace Jerry Falwell Jr. after years of scandals
Alex Bollinger | LGBTQ Nation
Liberty University has announced that its president, Jerry Falwell Jr., will be replaced this year by pastor and anti-LGBTQ activist Jerry Prevo.
What to do about Ellen
Christina Cauterucci, June Thomas | Slate
She had to be tough to make it to the top. But that doesn’t excuse alleged abuses of those on the bottom.
Bitch Media | What Does it Mean If Ellen DeGeneres Isn’t Nice?
8 LGBTQ+ Candidates to Watch in the 2020 Primary Races
Nico Lang | them.
The 2020 elections are already shaping up to be another groundbreaking year for LGBTQ+ candidates.
Rollbacks Of Protections For Transgender People Has ‘Marginalized the Community Even Further’
Kevin Gavin, Marylee Williams, Julia Zenkevich | WESA-FM (Pittsburgh, PA)
The Trump administration recently announced rollbacks of protections for transgender people in health care and housing. One of the new rules would allow federally-funded, same-sex homeless shelters to exclude transgender people from facilities that correspond to their gender identity.
California
Senator Threatened With Execution While Fighting for LGBTQ+ Teens
Donald Padgett | Out Magazine
Scott Wiener wants to close a loophole in California’s law that discriminates against queer youth, and right-wing extremists are now abusing him with death threats and accusations of pedophilia.
Massachusetts
Is Scandal-Hit Massachusetts Mayor Alex Morse Really a Victim of Homophobia?
Tim Teeman, Naveen Kumar | The Daily Beast
Alex Morse, the 31-year-old mayor of Holyoke, and Democratic challenger in the state’s 1st CD, has become the subject of controversy with potentially major political consequences, sparking debate about consent, abuse of power, and alleged homophobia.
Pennsylvania
Trump campaign adviser 'won't apologize' for misgendering trans health official
Tim Fitzsimons | NBC News
Trump campaign adviser Jenna Ellis intentionally misgendered Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, a transgender woman, on Twitter early Monday morning.
Jezebel | Top Trump Advisor Jenna Ellis Just Loves Being a Transphobic Bigot
LGBTQ Nation | Trans top COVID doctor says that an apology for the transphobia she has faced is “insufficient”
Pennsylvania Republican claims Brian Sims threatened him after he introduced a pro-LGBTQ bill
John Riley | Metro Weekly
A Pennsylvania Republican lawmaker has claimed that fellow State Rep. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) called him on the phone, shouted at him in a profanity-laced rant, and threatened him for proposing a pro-LGBTQ piece of legislation last week.
Pandemic Parenting
Three minutes and 27 seconds at a stretch. An embarrassment of riches.
2020: The School Year We Made Women Choose Between Work & Care
Mara Bolis | Romper
This year’s back to school season is like nothing parents have seen before — for mothers especially.
Teachers Working From Home With Their Own Kids Have To Do Some Serious Juggling
Ashley Jones | Romper
Many working parents are facing an impossible scenario this school year, but maybe none more so than teachers who have kids themselves.
FTC Commissioner Breastfeeds While Testifying: ‘If You’re Struggling, I’m Right There With You’
Quinn Fish | Working Mother
There’s no clearer sign of the times than the FTC commissioner testifying before the Senate on a live stream for greater support of working parents amidst the pandemic—while breastfeeding her newborn.
You want parents to teach kids amid the coronavirus pandemic this fall? Pay us.
Lindsay Powers | Yahoo Lifestyle
Parents helping kids do schoolwork during the coronavirus quarantine deserve to be paid for their labor, our writer believes.
Fisher-Price launches pandemic-themed toys, like a work-from-home play set, as millions of American parents continue to work remotely
Hayley Peterson | Business Insider
Fisher-Price is launching a "My Home Office" play set for $24.99.
Those kids are far too put-together and awake for work-at-home.
Not sure whether to laugh or cry, but am definitely interrupting them every three minutes and 27 seconds. “Honey, more Goldfish? Don’t forget to pick your sippy before it spills. Sweetheart? Let’s try to potty. Yeah… no, now…”
Pregnancy & Parenting
Infertility Was Distressing. The Military Made It Even More Complicated.
Victoria Chamberlin | The New York Times
For service members like me, Tricare health insurance and the limited number of military medical facilities offering fertility treatments add more stress to an already emotional process.
Coronavirus Might Make Black Maternal Mortality Even Worse
Nina Bahadur | SELF Magazine
Activists, experts, and community-led organizations have been championing strategies to fight Black maternal mortality for decades. Now, though, the COVID-19 pandemic may be exacerbating this tragic issue.
California
Murder Charges Over Stillbirth in California Set Off Heated Legal Battle
Jacey Fortin | The New York Times
The case of Chelsea Becker hinges on the courts’ interpretation of a small subsection in the state’s penal code.
Reproductive Health & Justice
Why SisterLove pushes for more women in HIV clinical trials
Gracie Bonds Staples | The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“We have reached a juncture when the end of the domestic HIV epidemic is in sight, but we cannot move forward if we leave women behind.”
Wellness Doesn’t Belong To White Women
Kelly Gonsalves | The Cut
The wellness industry has a racism problem. While that’s true of most major industries, there’s something particularly egregious — and dangerous — about the institutions promising to support your well-being being rife with racist stereotypes, exclusionary pricing, and willful ignorance about how race factors into our physical and mental health.
Unequal Access to Healthcare: The More Things Change, The More Things Stay the Same
Kay Van Wey | National Law Review
Racial disparities in healthcare should have disappeared with the implementation of Title VI and everyone should now have equal access to quality healthcare but, fifty-six years later, we still speak of the things that Title VI should have done but did not do.
Supreme Court Decision on Birth Control Is a Threat to Women With Chronic Illness
Jillian Goltzman | Rewire.News
Last month’s Supreme Court ruling in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania was a callous attack on the health of chronically ill people.
Texas
How Teens Can Get Birth Control Without Their Parents Finding Out—Even in a Pandemic
Graci D’Amore | Rewire.News
Jane's Due Process helps teens in Texas and beyond access birth control, STI testing and treatment, and other family planning services.
Work & Money
Covid Pandemic Worsens US Gender Pay Gap, Women Lose Opportunities
Maeve Sheehey | Bloomberg News
The coronavirus pandemic will likely make the gender pay gap worse as the U.S. economy recovers but could ultimately improve opportunities for women, according to a paper distributed by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
MarketWatch | The COVID-19 recession will widen the gender pay gap - but there might be a silver lining
The Differences Between Workplace Bullying And A “Hostile Work Environment”
Eric Bachman | Forbes
Workplace bullying and its damaging effects have been hot topics in the news recently. In these stories, a generally toxic office culture is often discussed interchangeably with the legal concept of a hostile work environment. Yet a crucial difference exists between these two concepts: only a hostile work environment provides an actionable claim in court under Title VII.
Pinterest Accused of Gender Bias in Suit by Former No. 2 Executive
Erin Griffith | The New York Times
Françoise Brougher, Pinterest’s former chief operating officer, said she was fired after speaking up about mistreatment.
Virginia
Equal Protection No Bar to Job Retaliation for Sex Bias Gripes
Patrick Dorrian | Bloomberg Law News
A deputy county attorney in Virginia can’t sue for retaliation allegedly spurred by her workplace sex discrimination complaints because the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause doesn’t authorize such a cause of action, the Fourth Circuit ruled Tuesday in a case of first impression.
More, More, More
UN Women's Executive Director Sees a Path to Gender Equality in Spite of COVID-19
Leah Rodriguez | Global Citizen
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director of UN Women, envisions a path forward despite the new set of challenges presented by the pandemic.
The Complex Sexual Politics of "WAP" & the Freedom to Be Sexy and Black
Princess Weekes | The Mary Sue
The new music video starring Cardi B and featuring Megan Thee Stallion,”WAP,” has been such a moment in our pop culture history that even politicians are commenting on it.
‘Entitled’ Takes a Scalpel to What Men Feel They Automatically Deserve
Jennifer Szalai | The New York Times
The book parses the various “goods” that men, in Manne’s reckoning, have been conditioned to feel entitled to — admiration, sex and consent; a home where someone else uncomplainingly does most of the child care and housekeeping. Some of these things are “feminine-coded,” she writes; others, like power and knowledge, are typically reserved as a masculine prerogative.
100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment: Unpacking the Legacy
Teen Vogue
To mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment,The Uncounted is a series that elevates the stories of women of color who have been disenfranchised and often written out of history.
If you can punish a teenage girl for spaghetti straps, you can enforce a mask mandate
Monica Hesse | The Washington Post
Legislate the “personal choice” of mask noncompliance the way you have for decades tried to legislate women over their own deeply personal decisions.
Supreme Court
Term is over, but they’re still in their 💩
🠲 The Supreme Court’s shadow docket is growing larger and more divisive.
Steve Vladeck | Slate
Jurisprudence Through its “shadow docket,” the court is quietly shaping the rules around elections, COVID regulations, immigration, and the federal death penalty.