Remember the ladies
Today…
in 1776, Abigail Adams wrote a letter urging her husband to “remember the ladies” in the Declaration of Independence. Really sets a theme for today.
is Equal Pay Day. There’s a pile of articles below and data sliced and diced by state, race, ethnicity, marital status and more at Institute for Women’s Policy Research and National Women’s Law Center.
is Trans Day of Visibility (#TDoV). It may only be on Twitter this year, but I do see you.
is National Tater Day, apparently, and if no part of your brain goes to Ron White when you hear that, I tip my hat to you.
Abortion
Federal judges in 3 states block orders limiting abortion access over coronavirus
Caroline Kelly | CNN
Federal judges in Alabama, Ohio and Texas have blocked orders banning nonessential medical procedures from limiting abortion access during the coronavirus outbreak, a win for abortion rights activists as the fight over abortion rights intersects with the worsening pandemic.
Federal judge grants restraining order, allows Alabama abortion clinics to stay open amid COVID-19
Abbey Crain | Al.com
District Judge Myron Thompson, the same judge who blocked Alabama’s abortion ban from going into effect in Nov. 2019, ordered in a court filing Monday night that the March 27th order by the Alabama Department of Public Health postponing non-emergency medical procedures would not apply to abortion clinics.
Montgomery Advertiser: Federal judge rules abortion procedures can continue during outbreak
States Are Using the Cover of COVID-19 to Restrict Abortion and Healthcare for Women
Alex Morris | Rolling Stone
While states like Texas, Ohio, and Iowa have ignored the directives of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and used the coronavirus pandemic to attempt to declare abortion “nonessential," other states, like Idaho, have forged ahead with business as usual, pushing through anti-abortion (and anti-trans and anti-affirmative action) bills while their constituents’ attention is understandably pulled elsewhere.
Planned Parenthood, ACLU sue Iowa officials to keep abortion available amid coronavirus outbreak
Kate Smith, Adam Brewster | CBS News
A handful of abortion rights groups filed a lawsuit against state officials in Iowa on Monday, asking the court to maintain abortion access amid directives suspending "non-essential" medical procedures.
Federal judge blocks Ohio from using coronavirus health order to restrict abortions
Andrew Tobias | Cleveland.com
A federal judge has temporarily banned Ohio officials from using a public-health order forbidding nonessential surgeries during the coronavirus pandemic to restrict providers from performing abortions within the state.
U.S. judges stop Texas, Ohio, Alabama from curbing abortions during coronavirus crisis
Andrew Chung | Reuters
Federal judges on Monday blocked officials in Texas, Ohio and Alabama from banning most abortions in those states as part of their orders to postpone surgeries and other procedures deemed not medically necessary during the coronavirus crisis.
AP: Judges slow abortion bans in Texas, Ohio, Alabama amid virus
InStyle: Some States Are Quietly Using the Coronavirus to Restrict Abortion
Slate: Federal Judges Block Texas and Ohio Coronavirus Abortion Bans
People: Judges Rule Texas and Ohio Can’t Limit Abortions During Coronavirus Pandemic
People? Like one of your mother’s friends wandering into a work meeting. No no, I’m glad you’re here, Carmella, I just wasn’t expecting you…
Federal judge blocks Texas from enforcing coronavirus-related abortion ban
Chuck Lindell | Austin American-Statesman
A federal judge on Monday blocked a Texas policy that temporarily closed abortion clinics as part of the state’s response to the coronavirus outbreak. Responding to a lawsuit by abortion providers, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel said the policy amounted to a ban on abortion in violation of the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court precedent.
Buzzfeed: A Judge Struck Down A Texas Ban On Abortions During The Coronavirus Outbreak
CBS: Abortion in Texas will resume, despite Attorney General orders
The Hill Judge blocks Texas from banning abortion as part of coronavirus response
New York Times: Texas Abortion Clinics Can Keep Operating, Judge Rules
Politico: Judge lifts Texas abortion ban pegged to coronavirus pandemic
Texas Tribune: Federal judge temporarily blocks Texas' ban on abortions during coronavirus pandemic
Abortion rights groups sue Oklahoma governor over coronavirus-related abortion ban
Carmen Forman | The Oklahoman
Reproductive rights groups are suing Oklahoma officials over Gov. Kevin Stitt's order prohibiting most abortions during the COVID-19 outbreak. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Center for Reproductive Rights and Dechert LLP on Monday asked a federal judge to immediately block Stitt's order.
Utah governor signs bills involving abortions, polygamy
Lindsay Whitehurst | Associated Press
Republican Gov. Gary Herbert signed new requirements for abortion clinics and other medical facilities to cremate or bury fetal remains after an abortion or miscarriage, rather than dispose of them with medical waste. Backers of that measure argued that it would be more dignified.
Attorneys General Urge FDA To Lift Restrictions On Medication Abortion
Melissa Jeltsen | HuffPost
A coalition of 21 attorneys general is urging the federal government to lift restrictions on mifepristone, a drug used in medication abortion, so that women who want to terminate a pregnancy do not have to embark on unnecessary travel during the coronavirus outbreak. Medication abortion, often referred to as the “abortion pill,” is a safe and effective way to end a pregnancy before 10 weeks.
The Coronavirus Stimulus Package Highlights Republicans’ Anti-Abortion “Fetal Personhood” Hypocrisy
Vivian Kane | The Mary Sue
Of all the disingenuous, far-fetched tactics used by anti-abortion advocates, the idea of fetal personhood is one of the most insidious. The attempt to give embryos and fetuses the same rights as people is nothing new, but Republican lawmakers have really been hitting the angle hard in recent years.
The Latest GAO Report on the Global Gag Rule Confirms What We Already Know
Monica Kerrigan | Ms. Magazine
Put simply: the global gag rule is an attack on the health and human rights of people worldwide, especially women, young people and others who already face systemic barriers to care. It’s blocked millions of people from accessing a wide range of health services that could save and transform their lives.
So many articles! Forward this to your colleagues and save them a little time this morning…
LGBTQ
Anti-LGBTQ Hate Groups Continue to Rise
David Artavia | The Advocate Magazine
According to a recent report from the Southern Poverty Law Center, the number of anti-LGBTQ hate groups are continuing to rise. In 2018, there were 49 groups classified as a LGBTQ hate group. In 2019, that number increased 43% to 70 anti-LGBTQ hate groups.
Idaho Governor Bans Trans People From Changing Birth Certificate Gender On Eve of International Transgender Day
Christina Zhao | Newsweek
On the eve of the International Transgender Day of Visibility, Republican Idaho Governor Brad Little signed two bills regarding trans people into law. The two measures, HB 500 and HB 509, were quietly pushed through by state lawmakers as the U.S. continued their battle with the COVID-19 pandemic. With Idaho's stay-at-home order, protesters were unable to show up to oppose the laws.
The Advocate: Idaho Governor Signs Two Anti-Trans Bills Into Law
Metro Weekly: Idaho governor signs two bills that discriminate against the transgender community
The Term “Chinese Virus” Could Cause Damage Like “Gay-Related Immune Deficiency” Did During the AIDS Crisis
Joseph Jaafari | Teen Vogue
The same medical experts who worked during the AIDS crisis say they are recognizing parallels between AIDS and COVID-19 being labeled the “Chinese virus” by President Trump and his allies. The renaming of the coronavirus, they say, is a carbon-copy act of how politicians created stigma and fear of gay men in the 1980s. And, they argue, just as it misinformed Americans back then, it will do the same now.
Reproductive Health & Justice
A Gender Lens for COVID-19
Susan Papp & Marcy Hersh | Project Syndicate
Gender is often an ignored factor during health emergencies, even though women comprise 70% of the global healthcare workforce. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the most effective policy responses will be those that account for how the crisis is experienced by women and girls.
Anti-Abortion Groups Are Making COVID-19 an Even Greater Public Health Threat
Dr. Herminia Palacio | Rewire.News
While it will take time to collect and rigorously analyze evidence to understand the full implications of this crisis on gender rights, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights (including its impact on IPV, maternal health and mortality, access to abortion and contraception, and reproductive decisions and autonomy), it is clear the situation is not looking good for anyone in need of essential reproductive health care.
As Kentucky’s Only Black Woman in the Legislature, I Have a Plan to Address Racial Maternal Health Inequities
State Rep. Attica Scott | River City News
Far too often in Frankfort, bills are passed and signed into law that will actually harm children who look like mine, hurt moms like me who know what it’s like to live paycheck-to-paycheck or no check-to-no check, or harm people of color who are ignored and left behind—if not left out altogether.
Workplace Equality
Today is Equal Pay Day for women and it's not a day to celebrate
Tricia Escobedo & Alicia Lee | CNN
"If women could be making what they should be making, what their male counterparts are making, the economy would be doing much better," said Shannon Williams of the Equal Pay Today campaign. "If we're really serious about making sure that women, particularly women of color are earning the money that they deserve, then we need to make sure that we're making our voices heard this (election) year."
Everything feels different this Equal Pay Day
Lilly Ledbetter | CNN
The Covid-19 pandemic has suddenly exposed the brutal economic reality of low-paid women workers who are on the frontlines of this crisis -- and I feel an increased sense of urgency to close the wage gap that continues to shortchange them when they can least afford it.
On Equal Pay Day, What Is The Real Gender Pay Gap?
Kim Elsesser | Forbes
Controlling for management level, industry and years of experience doesn’t give an accurate picture of the true gender pay gap. Instead, it gives people an excuse to think there’s not a problem. A 2015 Glassdoor survey of workers found that a large majority (70%) believe men and women are paid equally for equal work. They’re not. The real gender pay gap is 81.6 cents.
'Equal Pay Day' more important than ever amid COVID-19
Chirlane Mccray & Jacqueline Ebanks | The Hill
The coronavirus pandemic is revealing the country’s economic inequity with painful contrasts. Some workers are able to work from home, pay for childcare and stock up on food. Others are pushed out of low-wage hourly jobs because of social distancing and must juggle childcare for children released from shuttered schools. Women are disproportionately those workers at the bottom.
Equal Pay Day Is in March—But Equal Earnings Day Is Not Until October
Carrie Baker | Ms. Magazine
The problem is that earnings include a lot more than just wages. Other forms of compensation must be calculated in earnings—such as health insurance, retirement account contributions, bonuses, and self-employment income. According to the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality, once you factor in these other forms of earnings, men actually earn 75% more than women—meaning that women on average earn only 57 cents on a man’s dollar.
The Average Woman Loses $407,760 Because of the Gender Wage Gap Over Her Lifetime
Sarah Dreher | Newsweek
At the current rate, it will take until 2059 for U.S. women to reach parity with men, says the Institute for Women's Policy Research. And it will take even longer for women in many other countries: Projecting current trends into the future, the World Economic Forum projects it will be nearly 100 years before women in the 107 countries it continuously follows will reach parity.
Sex workers are struggling to make money during the coronavirus outbreak—here's why it matters
Danielle Campoamor | Hello Giggles
In a country that has long demonized sex workers while shamelessly investing in and profiting from their services—where, in 2018, a bill was passed that made it more difficult for sex workers to find work via the internet, under the guise of curbing sex trafficking—it is, sadly, no surprise that sex workers are offered little support, like other freelancers and self-employed people.
Don’t Let America Go Back To Work Without Telecommuting Rights
Mitch Turck | Medium
For a while now, I’ve been pursuing an initiative to protect telecommuting as a civil right under Title VII employment discrimination law. Its relevance to pandemic mitigation efforts is both timely and powerful: one of the major arguments for this civil right is that your employer doesn’t know what’s best for your household (imminent virus or otherwise), so as long as you can do the same job from your house as you can from your cubicle, your decision not to commute into an office is literally none of their business.
The USWNT's Record Is Awe-Inspiring, but Their Fight For Equal Pay Will Be Their Legacy
Emily Weaver | POPSUGAR
My hope is that the conversation so boldly sparked by the USWNT will transcend soccer and sports more generally, encouraging women everywhere never to back down from what they've rightfully earned.