Tell me something good
Today…
is the birthday of Margaret Chase Smith (1898-1995), the first woman to be elected to both the U.S. House and Senate.
in 1985, Wilma Mankiller became the first woman sworn in as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Tell me that you love me…
Abortion
INSIDER | What underground abortions could look like if Roe v. Wade is overturned | Julia Naftulin
If Roe v. Wade is overturned, abortion access could be limited or outlawed in 34 US states and illegal "underground" abortions could see an uptick.
Ms. | The Future of Abortion Care Depends on Independent Providers | Nikki Madsen
Today, there are 34% fewer independent clinics across the country than there were in 2012. The threats independent clinics face are harsh—which is why now more than ever, they need our support to continue meeting this moment.
Rewire News Group | Just How Far Will the Supreme Court Go to Protect Abortion Clinic Protesters? | Caroline Reilly
The latest in a litany of Bible-thumping cases thrust before the bench is from the Alliance Defending Freedom.
Salon | Mass protests for reproductive rights erupt in Poland: Why Americans should learn from them | Julie Burkhart
Poland is a reminder that when authoritarians take power, attacks on reproductive rights often follow.
VICE | The Iconic Photo Hijacked By the Anti-Abortion Movement | Amarens Eggeraat
The foetus is a powerful icon that the pro-choice movement has struggled to match.
Illinois
Chicago Tribune | The job of an abortion doula | Dawn Turner
Georgia
Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Black ministers send open letter to Warnock asking him to change pro-choice stance | Shelia Poole
Newsweek | Two Dozen Black Ministers Ask GA Senate Candidate Warnock to 'Reconsider' Pro-Choice Support | James Crowley
Louisiana
Prism | New laws create confusing information about abortion access | Ray Levy-Uyeda
Massachusetts
Boston Globe | Poll finds support for — and discomfort with — expanding abortion access in Mass. | Stephanie Ebbert
Boston Globe | Baker signs budget, balks at provision letting 16-, 17-year-olds get abortion without parental consent | Matt Stout
Boston Globe | O’Malley, Mass. bishops urge lawmakers accept governor’s changes to abortion measure | Nick Stoico
LGBTQ
The Advocate | Trump Rule Makes Asylum 'Impossible' for LGBTQ+, HIV-Positive People | Trudy Ring
Lambda Legal and Immigration Equality plan to sue the Trump administration over a new policy they say will make it “virtually impossible” for LGBTQ+ or HIV-positive refugees to gain asylum in the U.S.
More from Daily Kos, Metro Weekly, New Civil Rights Movement
Boston Globe | Trans people lifted up Biden. As president, he needs to do the same for them. | Renee Graham
At least 41 trans and gender nonconforming people have been murdered this year. This, and other underlying issues, must be addressed on a federal level.
Changing America | Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sponsors anti-transgender bill after claiming to be pro-LGBTQ | Anagha Srikanth
On the presidential campaign trail back in January, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard apologized for past anti-LGBTQ+ views and committed to fighting for LGBTQ+ rights. But a new bill stripping transgender rights under Title IX is sending another message.
More from The Advocate, The American Independent, Jezebel, LGBTQ Nation, The Mary Sue, Out Magazine, Teen Vogue, USA Today,
LGBTQ Nation | Why won’t this couple’s health insurance give them the same benefits as a straight couple? | Bil Browning
While their insurance will pay surrogacy costs for straight couples who can't conceive, they won't pay the bill for a gay couple.
NBC News | Anti-gay nonprofits, businesses received millions in Covid-19 aid | Sakshi S. Venkatraman, Brooke Sopelsa
Alleged "anti-LGBTQ hate groups," schools that bar gay teachers and a business that illegally fired a transgender worker all received pandemic relief funds.
POLITICO | Trump leaves Biden with a political landmine on human rights | Nahal Toosi
Many people in Biden’s orbit have watched the emphasis on religious liberty with unease. That’s not because they disagree with the cause. Rather, they question whether the Trump team’s intense emphasis on it is more about politics or about using religious freedom as a way to undermine other rights, such as those of gays and lesbians.
California
The Advocate | California Not Tracking LGBTQ+ Pandemic Data Despite Promise | Mey Rude
Michigan
LGBTQ Nation | Michigan court rules that businesses can refuse gay & bi people, but not trans people | Alex Bollinger
Washington Blade | Anti-trans discrimination is illegal, but not anti-gay discrimination | Chris Johnson
Pregnancy & Parenting
ABC News | Doctor looks for solutions as maternal health crisis worsens in the US | Danielle Genet, Katie Kindelan
HHS has launched an action plan to help improve maternal health in the U.S.
Courier | HHS’ Plan to Reduce Maternal Deaths in the US Is Missing One Thing: A Plan to Address Racism | Tiffany Lawrence
New Mexico
New Mexico In Depth | Midwifery presents important avenue for fighting health disparities | Bella Davis
Texas
Houston Chronicle | Houston, Harris County receive ‘F’ for premature births, infant mortality | Julie Garcia
Reproductive Health & Justice
Rewire News Group | What Do Abstinence-Only Sex Ed and Rape Culture Have in Common? | Steph Auteri
There’s now evidence showing how sex education textbooks contribute to rape culture by promoting abstinence.
USA Today | There's skepticism in minority communities about COVID-19 vaccines. Here's how women of color can help swing the momentum. | Nada Hassanein
“What we need to do is have trusted community ambassadors and messengers just relaying that this is a safe vaccine, that it’s efficacious.” Part of that is ensuring minority women and men understand the alternative of not getting vaccinated.
Texas
Austin Monitor | Council committee hears update on effort to ensure menstrual equity | Elizabeth Pagano
Work & Money
Daily Beast | Former NOW President Toni Van Pelt Got $400,000 Payout After Racism Allegations | Emily Shugerman
When former NOW President Toni Van Pelt stepped down under a cloud of criticism this summer, many members expected never to hear from her again. What they did not know was that their former head had received a six-figure payout and would resurface again, months later, as a leader in her home chapter.
HuffPost | COVID-19's Looming Eviction Crisis Will Devastate Women | Alanna Vagianos
The pandemic has only magnified systemic sexism and racism in housing, possibly leaving millions of women and their families homeless come January.
New York Times | Former Aide Accuses Cuomo of Sexual Harassment | Jesse McKinley, Dana Rubinstein
Lindsey Boylan, who is now running for Manhattan borough president, said the governor would often discuss her physical appearance when she worked for him.
USA Today | 'Simply no truth to these claims': Gov. Cuomo's office denies former aide's sexual harassment allegation | Matthew Brown
More from Jezebel, NBC, Washington Post
New York Times | Female Workers Could Take Another Pandemic Hit: To Their Retirements | Mark Miller
Unequal job losses now will translate into smaller nest eggs and Social Security benefits down the road.
Radio.com | Senate passes landmark women veterans' care legislation | Abbie Bennett
What may be the most significant legislative effort for women veterans in the last two years passed out of the Senate this week, one step closer to becoming law.
Women's Republic | How Do We Get Women Back To Work? | Irene Zhang
In the U.S., 2.2 million women are taking a leave of absence or permanently exiting the workforce. What happens if one in four women put off their careers due to the pandemic? Is anyone actually searching for solutions?
Ohio
Dayton Daily News | Women leaving workforce during pandemic have broad impact on economy, business, families and women | Lynn Hulsey
More, More, More
POLITICO | It’s the sexism, stupid. | Elizabeth Ralph
Christopher Berry, a professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, along with co-authors Scott Ashworth and Ethan Bueno de Mesquita, built an election model, that shows you can only explain the current gender gap in U.S. politics if you consider election aversion as well as voter discrimination and stereotyping.