Higher education is not a luxury. It’s an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.
—President Obama speaking in Michigan today about his plans to make college more affordable (via barackobama)
(via thedancingfilly)
ACLU challenges discriminatory health insurance law
A new law in Michigan prevents many public agencies from giving their employees’ domestic partners health insurance, and the ACLU is stepping in to stop it. Four public employees, their domestic partners, and the ACLU are teaming up in a federal lawsuit.
Officials from the ACLU of Michigan suspect the measure does not have any financial benefits, but exists purely to keep LGBT families on a different level from heterosexual families. Based on the new law, domestic partners would lose health insurance and the state would lose revenue from the taxes they previously paid on their health insurance.
ACLU staff attorney Amanda C. Goad said the law is especially harsh during an economic downturn, when the state should be helping families save money.
“It’s unconstitutional for the state of Michigan to deprive a small number of workers the means to take care of their loved ones when other similarly situated workers do have access to family coverage,” she said in a statement Thursday.We’ll see how this turns out. Props to the ACLU for stepping in to right a serious wrong.
Know Your Rights: Essential Resources
RACIAL JUSTICE
When Traveling »
What To Do If You’re Stopped By Police, Immigration Agents or the FBI »
RELIGION AND BELIEF
ACLU of Texas Announces Bible Curriculum “Know Your Rights” FAQ Sheet »
WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Know Your Housing Rights: For Survivors of Domestic Violence »
Sexual Assault and Campus Housing »
Title IX and Sexual Assault - Your College’s Responsibilities »
Health and Safety in New York Nail Salons — Chemicals and the Law »
CRIMINAL LAW REFORM and IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS
What To Do If You’re Stopped By Police, Immigration Agents or the FBI »
SPEECH, PRIVACY AND TECHNOLOGY
Photographers »
Naked Scans or Groping? Rights at the Airport »
When Traveling »
LGBT RIGHTS
Speaking Out With Your T-Shirt »
Transgender People and the Law »
HIV & Your Civil Rights: In the Workplace » (PDF version)
Know Your Rights! A Quick Guide for LGBT High School Students » (Wallet Card)
NATIONAL SECURITY
When Encountering Law Enforcement »
PRISONERS’ RIGHTS
Assault and Excessive Force »
Disciplinary Sanctions and Punishment »
Environmental Hazards and Toxic Materials »
Freedom of Religion »
The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 »
Legal Rights of Disabled Prisoners »
Medical, Dental and Mental Health Care »
Pregnancy-Related Health Care in Prison or Jail »
The Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) »
Privileged and Non-Privileged Mail »
Publications Sent by Mail »
Restrictions on Visitation »
STATE-SPECIFIC RESOURCES
Michigan Civil Rights Groups Announce “Know Your Rights” Hotline for Targets of Dragnet Investigation » (ACLU of Michigan)
"Fetal Remains" Bill Pleases Anti-Choice, Traumatizes Women Who Miscarry
When Michigan anti-choicers claimed they found “fetal remains” in a dumpster at an abortion clinic, state Republicans quickly stepped up to push a bill legislating how products of conception could be discarded.
In the end, it turns out that there was no proof of mishandled remains. But a law was proposed regardless, and because of it, one of the first questions that may be asked of a woman who just miscarried or had a still birth is likely to be “what do you want to do with the fetus?”
Via the Detroit News:
“I think some women will be devastated,” says Joanne Mulhere, who counsels women undergoing loss of pregnancies at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, where about 175 women lose pregnancies through miscarriage or stillbirth annually.
Patients would be handed Kleenex, as well as a form to sign, requesting the remains be cremated, buried or interred.
They’ll be forced to make a potentially emotional choice that will, for some women, redefine how they think and feel.
It’s a “choice” that effectively reframes the way women are supposed to think about early pregnancy, imposing new opportunities for grief where none might have existed.
…
Unfortunately, Michigan legislators have crafted a bill that’s more sensitive to the needs of tissue that fits in a tablespoon than to grown women who, at vulnerable moments, will face a new form to sign, an unsought, disturbing decision to make.
Yet another thoughtless bill with unintended consequences that will hurt more women.
as always, change “women” to “people” in your minds.
Abortion Funds by State
My state is not on this list :( My state is horrible. For everyone whose state is NOT horrible, I hope this helps you.
My state isn’t on this list either. D:
Would really like to see more non-U.S. organizations as well……
You can check out my posts on national and international funds, then, as well as the compiled lists.
Something for everybody! Kind of!
Sweet! Okay everybody, check this out. Everyone should be covered with these. Should being the operative word.
Abortion Funds by State
Alaska
Arizona
California
- Reproductive Rights Network of Santa Cruz County
- ACCESS Women’s Health Justice
- Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP)
- Make a Difference Fund
Colorado
District Of Columbia
Delaware
Distrito Federal (Mexico City)
Florida
- W.O.M.E.N.
- Roe Fund
- North Florida Justice Fund
- Emergency Medical Assistance Inc.
- Women’s Emergency Network
- Broward Women’s Emergency Fund
- Central Florida Women’s Emergency Fund
Georgia
Iowa
Illinois
- Illinois Reproductive Justice Fund
- Planned Parenthood of Illinois Reproductive Justice Fund
- Chicago Abortion Fund
Kansas
Kentucky
Massachusetts
- Eastern Massachusetts Abortion Fund
- Abortion Rights Fund of Western Massachusetts
- Jane Fund of Central Massachusetts
Maryland
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Montana
North Dakota
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
- Abortion Assistance Fund of Planned Parenthood New Mexico
- New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Nevada
New York
- Abortion Fund of Planned Parenthood of NYC
- Joan Bechhofer Fund
- New York Abortion Access Fund
- Access Fund of Aphrodite Medical
- Haven Coalition
- Third Wave Foundation Emergency Abortion Fund
Ohio
Oklahoma
Ontario
Oregon
Pennsylvania
- Women’s Medical Fund
- Vivian Campbell Fund
- Margaret C. Rubin Freedom Fund
- Planned Parenthood of Northeast and Mid-Penn Fund for Choice
- Western Pennsylvania Fund for Choice
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Vermont
Washington
- North Idaho Fund
- Women in Need Fund—Renton
- Women in Need Fund—Tacoma
- Abortion Access Network
- Community Abortion Information and Resources Project (CAIR Project)
Wisconsin
West Virginia
Wyoming
My state is not on this list :( My state is horrible. For everyone whose state is NOT horrible, I hope this helps you.
(Source: bebinn)
