We can be sad together
Today…
in 1963, the Equal Pay Act was signed, to “prohibit discrimination on account of sex in the payment of wages by employers.” Suffice it to say, the bill has not entirely hit that goal.
in 1919, states began ratifying the 19th Amendment. Wisconsin was first, followed the same day by Illinois and Michigan. Last state to sign on? Mississippi, on March 22 anno Domini 1984. No rush.
is National Iced Tea Day. Yes, that sounds nice, thank you.
A while back, as Big Nana was nearing the end, I was trying to prepare the kids for what was to come. The then-3yo suggested juice, babies or medicine as possible remedies. I explained that it was just going to be a very sad time, and she said “then we can be sad together.” And you know? It helped.
I can’t imagine many folks were out here wondering and waiting for a statement from BabyNames.com, but this is good. Powerful, effing heartbreaking, and in keeping with who they are.
Abortion
I was pleasantly surprised for a moment, but no no – “may” doesn’t mean “can” in the following.
Anti-Abortion Groups Say COVID-19 Vaccines May Use Cells From Human Fetuses
Kashmira Gander | Newsweek
Catholic leaders and others who oppose abortions have raised concerns that potential COVID-19 vaccines are being developed using cells derived from aborted fetuses. Decades-old fetal cell lines are already used to make a number of common vaccines, including against chickenpox, shingles, Hepatitis A and Rubella.
While You Protest, the Supreme Court Is Poised to Pummel Your Rights
Jessica Mason Pieklo | Rewire.News
The Supreme Court is set to radically alter immigration, abortion rights, and employment discrimination law—all in a matter of weeks. The Supreme Court is set to decide its first abortion rights case since Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the bench, and the stakes are predictably sky high.
Colorado
Colorado abortion limits measure qualifies for Nov. 3 ballot
AP
Backers of a proposed initiative to ban abortions at 22 weeks in Colorado have collected enough signatures to put the measure on the November ballot, the secretary of state’s office said Monday.
Denver Post | Colorado voters will decide on 22-week abortion ban this fall
Colorado Springs Gazette | Colorado voters to decide on late-term abortion ban
Ms. | Colorado To Vote on Late-Term Abortion Ban in November
LGBTQ
How Essential Is My Facial Feminization Surgery?
Harron Walker | Esquire
I had one gender-affirming procedure left. Everything was in place. Then COVID-19 happened.
Let's Talk About The Stonewall Riots
Olivia Smith | Grit Daily
The Stonewall Riots were the first steps towards an organized gay rights movement. They were the first steps to marches for Pride. They were the first steps to reversing the opinion in the medical community that homosexuals needed psychological treatment. Federal laws discriminating against gay and lesbian people slowly changed, and lawmakers struck down anti-sodomy laws.
Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus endorses resolution condemning police brutality
John Riley | Metro Weekly
The Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus has announced its support for a congressional resolution condemning police brutality and calling for greater accountability and oversight of police.
Munroe Bergdorf rehired at L'Oréal, 3 years after being fired over white supremacy comments
Gwen Aviles | NBC
L'Oréal Paris has rehired Munroe Bergdorf after the model called the company's recent Black Lives Matter Instagram post hypocritical and a form of "gaslighting."
BET | Munroe Bergdorf Gets An Apology From L'Oréal And A New Job
PR Week | L'Oreal Paris to donate to LGBT+ causes after Black Lives Matter backlash
The Roles Are L.G.B.T.Q., but the Movies Are Not About Self-Discovery
Elisabeth Vincentelli | The New York Times
After a generation of films about sexual or emotional awakening, these titles showcase lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters in all their wonderful complexity.
New York
Manhattan's Only Black-Owned Gay Bar In Danger Of Closing: How To Help
Ashley Parker | thirsty.
As we enter Pride Month 2020, in the midst of a global fight for racial equality, Manhattan’s only black-owned LGBTQ+ bar, is in danger of shutting its door for good.
Pennsylvania
Don't let transgender woman try to bolster lawsuit against us, UPenn tells judge
Nicholas Malfitano | The Pennsylvania Record
Defendants from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania who are facing a lawsuit based on wrongful termination, civil rights discrimination and sex discrimination after a recovery room incident that allegedly led to a transgender employee’s firing, are trying to prevent further amendment of the plaintiff’s complaint.
Pregnancy & Parenting
Tear Gas, Miscarriages, and Breastfeeding: Is it Safe to Protest While Pregnant?
Gina Martinez | Rewire.News
The question of whether to show up to protests because of the potential risk is not a consideration that anyone should have to make—there is no reason that peaceful protesters should ever be attacked with chemicals.
How do I safely participate in a national uprising during a global pandemic? I still struggle to wrap my head around the everyday questions we have to ask ourselves right now.
Massachusetts
Focus shifts to racial disparities in the health of mothers
Steph Solis | MassLive.com
Discussions on racial disparities in maternal mortality rates are gaining traction on Beacon Hill on the heels of the coronavirus pandemic and mounting calls for racial justice during protests against police brutality.
Committee Backs Bill On Racial Disparities In Maternal Health
Chris Van Buskirk | WGBH-TV (Boston, MA)
House leaders are backing a bill to create a commission that would study racial disparities in maternal mortality after House Speaker Robert DeLeo pledged Friday to take "decisive action" to address structural racism. The Committee on Health Care Financing reported out the bill (H 4448) Monday, sending it to the House Ways and Means Committee.
Tennessee
Tennessee should not end plans to expand postpartum insurance
Anne Garcia, Virginia Jones, Kay Moss | The Tennessean
Not only do all new mothers deserve excellent care, the lack of such care can wind up costing the state more, since some mothers will not seek care if they are not insured until they may have to rely on emergency care, which is the most expensive kind of care. In addition, more mothers will die or be permanently disabled.
Reproductive Health & Justice
Black Reproductive Justice Advocates Call For Defunding Police
Kirsten West Savali | Essence
Black Reproductive Justice advocates, leaders and organizations are calling for alternative actions to the violent and aggressive police response we’ve seen across cities in our nation. This letter outlines five recommendations that centers the humanity of our communities and the call for progress.
Why Students Need Sex Education That's Honest About Racism
Christine Soyong Harley | Rewire.News
It is not enough to say that we advocate for “culturally responsive” sex ed. We have to show that our sex education is as honest about racism as it is on any other topic. Providing high quality sex education that reflects the experiences of Black students, and other students of color, is key.
Women Still Left Out of Much Medical Research
Serena Gordon | U.S. News & World Report
Despite policies and grant requirements to include females in research studies, many researchers still don't analyze their data by sex, a new study found. If researchers don't look at their results by sex, it's impossible to know if diseases, drugs or vaccines might impact each sex differently.
New York
NYC's health department is delivering lube and condoms to people's doorsteps
Julia Naftulin | INSIDER
NYC health officials postponed its free condom distribution program and closed seven sexual health clinics due to the coronavirus pandemic. But officials said it's still important for New Yorkers to practice safe sex, so they created a free condom and lube delivery service.
NYC Health Department Wants You to Get Kinky for Sex Now
Mikelle Street | Out Magazine
While new "safer sex" guidelines still maintain that "you are your safest sex partner," fathered by the next consenting adult that you live with, advisors have gone ahead and also provided some guidance for those who just can't make that work.
Oregon
Planned Parenthood opens East Portland Health Center
Christopher Keizur | The Outlook (Gresham)
Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette celebrated the grand opening of its newest health center Monday. The Elsie H. Hillman East Portland Health Center will provide a full range of reproductive health services, community education and other needed resources.
Work & Money
2 ways to help your Black coworkers earn more by being an ally in the workplace
Mariette Williams | Business Insider
Having colleagues share their salaries helped me ask for more money – I knew what was standard at the jobs where I worked and what I deserved to be paid. Advocating for your colleagues is important, too. Early in my career a coworker nominated me for an award that changed the course of my career – and all she had to do was speak up.
Research says that white women will reach pay equality by the year 2055. Black women won't get there until 2119.
Dayana Yochim | Business Insider
While all women rally together for pay equality, Black women are often left behind when it comes to making as much as their male colleagues. A white woman will lose about $530,000 in earnings over a 40-year career compared to what a white man makes, but a Black woman will miss out on up to $950,000.
As Uprising Spreads, Scholars Argue Economic Transformation and Solidarity Key to Achieving Racial Justice
Jon Queally, Jessica Corbett | Common Dreams
In separate in-depth columns published Monday, two leading black female scholars argue that the while the United States stands on the edge of a precipice of either transformational change or tattered ruin, there is renewed hope for fundamental change—including both racial and economic justice—to be found in the nationwide uprisings sparked by last month's murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.
8 Black Moms Running for Office You Can Support Right Now
Audrey Goodson Kingo | Working Mother
Many Americans are wondering what they can do to chip away at racial injustice. We have a suggestion: Support Black moms running for office. Even if you can't vote for these women because you're not in their districts, you can donate to their campaigns.
More, More, More
Young Black Protesters Know Exactly What They Want: Radical Anti-Racism
Lam Vo, Adolfo Flores | BuzzFeed News
Looking at their parents’ struggles and enraged by George Floyd’s death, a younger generation is fired up for change.
Why “I’m Not Racist” Isn’t Good Enough
Kelly Stout | Esquire
I would ask white America to ask ourselves: What does it take to wake us up? How many executions of unarmed black people do we have to witness before we rise up? Why is the price for our enlightenment so unspeakably high?
How Women Can Lead The Resistance Against Climate Change
Nancy Wang | Forbes
Because women typically provide for their families, for example, by sourcing and sometimes physically hauling water, food, and fuel, and often earn less incomes, climate change disproportionately affects women. Therefore, according to the United Nations Women organization, women’s economic empowerment should be a focus of green economics and climate change.
Florida
Florida’s first woman Senate president, Gwen Margolis, dies at 85
Mary Ellen Klas | Miami Herald
Gwen Margolis, a trailblazing figure in Florida and Miami-Dade politics who served as the first female to lead the male-dominated state Senate, died early Tuesday. Margolis, a Democrat, served a total of 30 years in the state Legislature [and] became the first woman to lead any state Senate in the country. Margolis was a champion of women’s rights, pushing for the ERA early in her career and frequently becoming the first in nearly all of her leadership endeavors.
P.S. Why am I a little late today? The groceries came.