Pour one out
Today…
in 1964, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law, banning discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex or national origin. (All the recent talk about “Title VII” from Supreme Court rulings? It’s Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. You probably knew that already.)
is National Anisette Day! Oh, that was a favorite of Big Nana’s. As she got older, the ratio of anisette to coffee in her mug got… a little silly…
Are we taking tomorrow off? Most people are, yes? I haven’t decided yet if you’ll hear from me or not. Monday’s another Supreme Court decision day, though, so get your rest, look at a tree, enjoy a cocktail, regroup and recharge.
Oh, and don’t forget to share. Big Nana would want you to.
Abortion
VA’s abortion ban is questioned on Capitol Hill
Nikki Wentling | Stars & Stripes
The Department of Veteran Affairs’ nearly 30-year abortion ban received a critical look from lawmakers Tuesday, some of whom argued it was a “harsh” inequity for a growing number of female veterans.
Connecting Vets Radio | Capitol Hill lawmakers, advocates question VA abortion ban, women veterans' reproductive care
Military Times | Lawmakers debate women veterans’ access to VA reproductive health care
Abortion Media Coverage Is 'Deeply, and Problematically, Politicized' Says Study
Zoe Larkin | Ms. Magazine
A new report from NARAL Pro-Choice America and Global Strategy Group (GSG) found most abortion coverage in mainstream media to be “deeply, and problematically, politicized.”
A Small Victory for Reproductive Rights
Katha Pollitt | The Nation
Trump’s Supreme Court appointees lost this battle, but the war on abortion is far from over.
🠲 How Chief Justice Roberts Solved His Abortion Dilemma
Linda Greenhouse | New York Times
…the chief justice means to leave the door open to abortion regulations that confer no medical benefit while imposing obstacles less drastic — perhaps less “substantial” — than ridding a state of all but one abortion clinic.
One of These Cases Could Be the Next Big Fight for Abortion Rights
Jessica Mason Pieklo | Rewire.News
The ink is barely dry on June Medical Services v. Russo, yet we could know as soon as Thursday what future abortion cases the U.S. Supreme Court could take on.
Brett Kavanaugh's Anti-Sex Work Decision Could Have a Devastating Impact on Abortion Rights
Lisa Needham | Rewire.News
This decision is similar to the "global" gag rule that requires overseas organizations to agree to the Trump administration's anti-choice stance for funding. Kavanaugh wrote the majority opinion in AID v. AOSI, affirming what conservatives do best when it comes to the First Amendment: using it to find fresh new ways to discriminate.
Related reading, makes a similar 1A connection from Janus to Espinoza: Slate | The Roberts Court Only Protects Certain Types of People From First Amendment Compulsion
Florida
DeSantis signs dozens of bills before deadline
Brendan Farrington | AP
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis grabbed a lot of attention this week by approving the state budget, creating new restrictions on girls seeking abortions…
Minnesota
Abortions in Minnesota again fall below 10,000
Mary Lynn Smith | Star Tribune
The number of abortions in Minnesota remained at near-record lows last year, falling below 10,000 for a second consecutive year.
Mississippi
Mississippi bans abortion based on race, sex, genetic issues
Emily Wagster Pettus | AP
Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed a law Wednesday that bans abortion based on the race, sex or genetic anomalies of a fetus, adding new limits in a state that already has some of the strictest abortion laws in the U.S.
The American Independent | Mississippi is trying to stop abortions with threats of prison
Virginia
Easing of abortion restrictions by Virginia's new Democratic majority takes effect
Chloe Atkins | NBC News
Virginia's Reproductive Health Protection Act goes into effect Wednesday, overturning many longstanding abortion restrictions in the state.
LGBTQ
🠲 HUD Rule Would Dismantle Protections for Homeless Transgender People
Chris Cameron | New York Times
The Department of Housing and Urban Development on Wednesday proposed allowing homeless shelters to deny transgender people access to single-sex shelters of their gender identity.
Supreme Court abortion ruling is a win for LGBTQ health care
Casey Quinlan | The American Independent
The Supreme Court handed down a victory for LGBTQ people on Monday when it ruled against a Louisiana abortion restriction.
June Is Over, the Fight for Black Trans Lives Is Not
Svetlana Legetic | BrightestYoungThings.com
It doesn’t seem like any of us need reminding that the fight is far from over, but it’s important to stay vigilant moving forward, and stay loud and proud about the fact that we’re not going anywhere.
The Census can’t keep LGBTQ people in the closet
Mallory Newall, Sarah Feldman | LGBTQ Nation
50 years after the first Pride march, much progress has been made by way of LGBTQ rights. But, the lack of data from the federal government continues to limit the full realization of these rights.
Reddit bans anti-transgender “feminist” community for hate speech
Bil Browning | LGBTQ Nation
Reddit has slashed thousands of communities that traffic in hate speech, including forums for Trump supporters and anti-transgender activists.
Think tank slams U.S. military for celebrating Pride Month despite transgender ban
John Riley | Metro Weekly
The Palm Center, an independent, nonpartisan research institute that analyzes U.S. military personnel policy, and advocates for LGBTQ inclusion in the Armed Forces, slammed the U.S. military for celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month even though President Trump’s ban on transgender service members remains in place.
Acceptance of homosexuality has risen worldwide, but is highly unpopular in poorer, more religious nations
John Riley | Metro Weekly
A new report by Pew Research Center examining attitudes towards homosexuality across 34 countries finds that acceptance of homosexuality has increased since 2002 by double-digits in most of the countries surveyed, but regional and economic divides continue to persist.
The Trans Journalists Association launches, with workplace advice and a style guide
Hanaa' Tameez | Nieman Lab
On Tuesday, the last day of Pride Month, 50 journalists launched a project to keep with the momentum of the month: the Trans Journalists Association.
Congress Must Act for LGBTQ People
Victoria A. Brownworth | Philadelphia Gay News
What’s next for us? The simplest answer is the Equality Act must become law. But it has been a year since its historic passage in the House
While talking about pride, let's also talk about access
Trudy Larson | Reno Gazette-Journal
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling that gay and transgender people are protected under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a good start. That ruling was specific to workplace discrimination, which is important; but LGBTQ people must be protected in all aspects of their lives. This includes health care.
Providence Journal | LGBTQ youth need health-care protections
And just for funsies… ”High School Musical” director reveals Ryan is gay, would have “come out in college”
THANK YOU. These movies insisted on pairing him with the piano girl – and listen, piano girl, I see you, I do – and the 10yo and I both watched like:
I mean, COME ON.
Also, I thought we established in Sharpay’s Musical Adventure that Ryan becomes a singer right out of high school and is out on tour, but perhaps I’ve said too much already.
Pregnancy & Parenting
What honors life? Doing better by all new mothers
Mike Radoiu | The News Leader (Staunton, VA)
For those folks out there eager to tout their pro-life credentials, I can think of no better way to act on their convictions than to work towards ensuring that new mothers don't die on a gurney from lack of proper and timely care.
Caregivers Are Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis During the Pandemic
Danielle Sinay | SheKnows
Out of the 43 million Americans who provided unpaid care to a friend or family member in the past year, 40 to 70% experience symptoms of depression — a quarter to half of whom match criteria for ‘major depression.’ And this number is even higher for women, with 20% of women caregivers reporting symptoms of depression, while only 8% of non-caregiving peers reported the same.
Why Black American women literally cannot breathe
Zadaiah Roye | Thomson Reuters Foundation
With pregnancy outcomes already far worse for black women, health risks associated with environmental damage and climate change are especially worrisome
Massachusetts
House Passes Bill to Address Racial Inequities in Maternal Health
David P. Linsky | Patch
Representative David P. Linsky (joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass legislation that works towards eliminating racial inequity in maternal health. H.4818, An Act to Reduce Racial Inequities in Maternal Health unanimously passed on a roll call vote 159-0.
New Jersey
New Jersey DOH Exempts Doulas From Hospital Delivery Support Person Limits During Coronavirus
Diana Holiner | BUST Magazine
In New Jersey, the Department of Health issued an executive directive that exempted doulas from the limits on support persons during a pregnant person’s hospital stay during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ohio
Maternal mortality: Could doulas help keep more Black moms and babies alive?
Lucy May, Lisa Smith | WCPO-TV (Cincinnati, OH)
Efforts are underway to increase the number of Black women who have access to doulas, trained companions who offer education, coaching and emotional support during pregnancy, delivery and after a baby is born.
Texas
Report Shows How Texas Women Struggled With Basic Needs, Even Before COVID-19
Justin Martin | KERA-FM
The Texas Women's Foundation defines the basic building blocks of financial security as child care, housing, education and health care. The foundation's newest report takes a deep dive into what challenges women in Texas face and the policies necessary to help women and families.
Reproductive Health & Justice
Newly FDA-Approved Contraceptive Gel is Not Your Momma’s Spermicide
Katherine Speller | SheKnows
A newly approved non-hormonal contraceptive gel might end up being part of a new renaissance for an old method — particularly for people who are looking for non-hormonal options that optimize individual control.
Missouri
Missouri Must Pay Planned Parenthood For Treating Medicaid Patients, Court Rules
Sarah Fentem | KSMU Radio
The Missouri Department of Social Services must pay Planned Parenthood for providing care for Medicaid patients, the state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
Work & Money
What Went Wrong at the Los Angeles Times
Laura Wagner | VICE
Two years ago, a billionaire owner asked Norman Pearlstine to reinvent a storied American newspaper. Some in his own newsroom say he's fallen short.
California
California's paid family leave program expands from 6 to 8 weeks
Mary Stringini | KTTV-TV (Los Angeles, CA)
New parents will have more time to care for their child thanks to SB 83, which took effect in California on Wednesday.
KRON-TV (San Francisco) | California’s paid family leave program expands to 8 weeks
New Jersey
Paid family leave benefits just got more generous in N.J. Here are the details.
Samantha Marcus | NJ.com
A big expansion of New Jersey’s paid family leave takes effect Wednesday, boosting benefits and doubling eligibility to 12 weeks.
Tennessee
Tennessee Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
Craig Cowart | National Law Review
The Tennessee Pregnant Workers Fairness Act requires every employer with at least 15 employees to make a reasonable accommodation for an employee’s or prospective employee’s medical needs arising from pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. The new law goes into effect on October 1, 2020.
Virginia
Sweeping Changes for Virginia Employers Take Effect
Nathaniel M. Glasser | National Law Review
July 1 represents a milestone for Virginia employers. Nearly two dozen new employment laws take effect, including the Virginia Values Act, which prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and military status.
More, More, More
Descendants of Suffragists Reflect on the Fight for Women's Right to Vote
Jennifer Harlan | New York Times
One hundred years after the 19th Amendment, suffragists’ descendants consider how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.
Dear Supreme Court: Shouldn’t the ERA Be Next?
Alyssa Fisher | Women’s eNews
While no single law can secure anyone from the impact of a pandemic, having the ERA in place is a crucial longterm step.
Capitol News Illinois | Raoul asks federal judge to force recognition of Equal Rights Amendment’s ratification
Des Moines Register | It's about time for the Equal Rights Amendment; Iowa's senators should help
Blue Virginia | AG Mark Herring Continues Fight to Recognize ERA as Part of U.S. Constitution
the18 | U.S. Soccer Backs Adoption Of Equal Rights Amendment Despite History Of Doing The Opposite
Social conservatives feel betrayed by the Supreme Court — and the GOP that appointed it
Jane Coaston | Vox
What is the purpose of the Republican Party? That’s a question some social conservatives have been asking following the Supreme Court’s ruling on June 15 in Bostock v. Clayton County, a major Supreme Court decision holding that federal law prohibits employment discrimination against LGBTQ workers — a decision written by Trump-appointed Justice Neil Gorsuch.
Miami Herald | Michael McGough | In striking down abortion law, perhaps John Roberts was keeping his word | Opinion
USA Today | Richard Wolf | President Trump has transformed the federal courts, but John Roberts still leads them
Washington Post | Curt Levey | John Roberts has gone full Anthony Kennedy