Social Movements & the Law

At the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC on July 25, 2012 sex workers activists loudly disrupted a special session on the United States Congress and the global AIDS epidemic. Activists rose up from the audience several minutes into the panel, as Senator Bill First praised panelists Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) for their bipartisan support of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Although PEPFAR is the world's largest government-generated fund for HIV/AIDS, it contains a policy, known as the "anti-prostitution pledge" that requires recipients of funds to oppose prostitution. Activists raised red umbrellas, unfurled a banner reading "Stop Criminalization, Change PEPFAR" and chanted "repeal the pledge, reform PEPFAR," "sex workers' rights are human rights," and "nothing about us without us." The activists made their way to the front of the packed room, to cheers from the audience, while Senator Frist tried to silence them. The group refused to step down, and remained seated at the front of the room for the duration of the session. After the group sat down, Senator Frist introduced Representative Barbara Lee, who announced planned legislation, bill HR 6138, which was introduced last week but for which the text is not yet available, which will eliminate the anti-prostitution pledge. As Rep. Lee exited the stage, the activists chanted "We love Barbara Lee!" This video includes documentation of the disruption, Barbara Lee's announcement about the new legislation, and commentary on the action by Kelli Dorsey (Different Avenues), Daisy McCloud (Red Umbrella Project), and Sharmus Outlaw (Desiree Alliance).

1M Likes, 25K Comments - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@aoc) on Instagram

Women's History Month book recommendations from University of Arizona Press Publicity Manager Mary Reynolds include We Are the Stars, Ladies of the Canyons, and No Place for a Lady – all written by women authors.

An American hero. Nothing less can be said of Barbara Jordan. One of the most influential women of the 20th century, she held an unwavering faith in the American people and heralded patriotism, justice, and compassion. With exclusive cooperation from the Jordan estate, Mary Beth Rogers gives us an intimate look at the woman born in poverty in Houston's Fifth Ward, who went on to become a savvy politician and dynamic leader, exemplifying courage, honor and dignity. Refusing to be "an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution",* Barbara stirred the nation with her forceful and eloquent oratory during the Watergate hearings, yet in 1977 decided not to seek reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives, turning instead to a life of teaching amid rumors of a serious illness.A true woman of heroic proportions, Barbara Jordan spent her entire life shaping the way people think. With her powerful convictions and her flair for oratorical drama, Barbara Jordan helped change the landscape of America's 20th century. Her patriotism, her fire and her perseverance have touched us all. Through this book, her life and the footsteps she left will be reintroduced to a country that is inarguably better for her presence.Mary Beth Rogers taught American Politics with Barbara Jordan at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. A chief of staff for former Texas Governor Ann Richards, Mary Beth is now

"In the tradition of Notorious RBG, a lively, beautifully designed, full-color illustrated celebration of the life, wisdom, wit, legacy, and fearless style of iconic American Congresswoman Maxine Waters. "Let me just say this: I'm a strong black woman, and I cannot be intimidated. I cannot be undermined. I cannot be thought to be afraid of Bill O'Reilly or anyone."-Maxine Waters. To millions nationwide, Congresswoman Maxine Waters is a hero of the resistance and an icon, serving eye rolls, withering looks, and sharp retorts to any who dare waste her time on nonsense. But behind the Auntie Maxine meme is a seasoned public servant and she's not here to play. Throughout her forty years in public service and eighty years on earth, U.S. Representative for California's 43rd district has been a role model, a crusader for justice, a game-changer, a trailblazer, and an advocate for the marginalized who has long defied her critics, including her most vocal detractor, Donald J. Trump. And she s just getting started. From her anti-apartheid work and support of affirmative action to her passionate opposition to the Iraq War and calls to hold Trump to account, you can count on Auntie Maxine to speak truth to power and do it with grace and, sometimes, sass. As ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee and one of the most powerful black women in America, she is the strong, ethical voice the country has always needed, especially right now. Reclaiming Her Time pays tribute to all things Maxine Waters, from growing up in St. Louis "too skinny" and "too black," to taking on Wall Street during the financial crisis and coming out on top in her legendary showdowns with Trump and his cronies. Featuring inspiring highlights from her personal life and political career, beloved memes, and testimonies from her many friends and fans, Reclaiming Her Time is a funny, warm, and admiring portrait of a champion who refuses to stay silent in the face of corruption and injustice; a p owerful woman who is an inspiration to us all."--;To millions nationwide, American Congresswoman Maxine Waters is a hero of the resistance and an icon, serving eye rolls, withering looks, and sharp retorts to any who dare waste her time on nonsense. Throughout her forty years in public service and eighty years on earth, the U.S. Representative for California's 43rd district has been a role model, a crusader for justice, a game-changer, a trailblazer, and an advocate for the marginalized who has long defied her critics-- including her most vocal detractor, Donald J. Trump. Andrews-Dyer and Thomas pay tribute to Waters, with highlights from her personal life and political career in a funny, warm, and admiring portrait of a champion who refuses to stay silent in the face of corruption and injustice. -- adapted from publisher info

"In the vein of Notorious RBG, fifteen writers explore the multiple meanings of a young Latina politician who has already made history. From the moment Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez beat a ten-term incumbent in the primary election for New York's 14th, her journey to the national, if not world, stage, was fast-tracked. Six months later, as the youngest Congresswoman ever elected, AOC became one of a handful of Latina politicians in Washington, D.C. Just thirty, she represents her generation, the millennials, in many groundbreaking ways: proudly working class, Democratic Socialist, of Puerto Rican descent, master of social media, not to mention of the Bronx, feminist-and a great dancer. AOC investigates her symbolic and personal significance for so many, from her willingness to use her imperfect bi-lingualism, to the threat she poses by governing like a man, to the long history of Puerto Rican activism that she joins. Contributors span a wide range of voices and ages, from media to the arts and politics; they include Rebecca Traister, Jennine Capo Crucet, Andrea Gonzalez-Ramirez, Patricia Reynoso, Pedro Regalado, Natalia Sylvester, Carmen Rita Wong, Tracey Ross, Erin Aubry Kaplan, Mariana Atencio, Wendy Carrillo, Nathan J. Robinson, Elizabeth Yeampierre, Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez, and Maria Cristina "MC" Gonzalez Noguera."--

Title IX is the most commonly used name for the federal civil rights law in the United States that was enacted as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government. This is Public Law No. 92‑318, 86 Stat. 235, codified at 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681–1688.

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Proponents assert it would end legal distinctions between men and women in matters of divorce, property, employment, and other matters. The first version of an ERA was written by Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman and introduced in Congress in December 1923.

The Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 (“FOSTA”) rescinded legal immunity for websites that intentionally host user-generated advertisements for sex trafficking. However, Congress’s mechanism of choice to protect sex-trafficking victims has faced critique and backlash from advocates for those involved in commercial sex, who argue that FOSTA’s broad legislative language does far more to harm sex workers—a group distinct from sex-trafficking victims—than it does to end sex trafficking, chilling significant protected speech in the process.

A Senate aide directed staff to protect the three mahogany boxes containing the certified electoral votes while rioters stormed the Capitol Wednesday afternoon.

Fifty years ago, Title IX changed the landscape for women across the United States. To celebrate the landmark civil rights law, here are nine (or so) who paved the way for Title IX and have championed its transformative legacy,

The ERA would formally ban discrimination on the basis of sex and guarantee equality for women under the Constitution.

In the #MeToo era and with more women entering Congress, activists are hopeful another state could ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. But is it too late?

Female attorneys like Loretta Lynch and Jeannie Rhee of Paul Weiss and Beth Brinkmann with Covington & Burling are filing amicus briefs in a Democratic lawsuit seeking to force the addition of the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.

The bulletin moved just after 1 p.m. on Aug. 18, 1920, conveying the breaking news that the 19th Amendment had been ratified giving women the constitutional right to vote...

What supporters and opponents of the Equal Rights Amendment say the amendment would do if enacted.

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Since 1917, when Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman to serve in Congress, a total of #WIC#Total# women have served as U.S. Representatives, Delegates, Resident Commissioners, or Senators. This website, based on the publication Women in Congress, contains biographical profiles of former women Members of Congress, links to information about current women Members, essays on the institutional and national events that shaped successive generations of Congresswomen, and images of each woman Member, including rare photos.

More than 50 Women’s Rights Organizations Argue for Adoption Following Ratification by 38 States as Required in U.S. Constitution CHICAGO – July 1, 2020 – Winston & Strawn filed today an amicus brief ...

Women's Congressional Policy Institute (WCPI) brings women policymakers together across party lines to advance issues of importance to women and their families...

Winston & Strawn strongly supports the effort to secure equal rights for women through ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution.

As attacks to women’s health and rights ramp up on the federal level, states have an opportunity to advance progressive policies to protect women and their families.

United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has spent a lifetime defying notions about "the way women are" and, in the process, has become a cultural icon as well as a profoundly influential jurist. This collection of some of her most significant opinions and dissents illuminates the intellect, humor, and toughness that have made "the Notorious R.B.G." a hero to many. Included are Justice Ginsburg's majority opinions in United States v. Virginia (1996), Olmstead v. L. C. (1999), and Sessions v. Morales-Santana (2017); her concurrence in Whole Women's Health v. Hellerstedt (2016); a selection from the Court's 2018-2019 term; and some of the justice's most famous dissents, such as those in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire (2007), Gonzales v. Carhart (2007), and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014). Also included are an introduction and explanatory notes that help make these writings accessible to a nonlegal audience.

Offers an illustrated unofficial pictorial retrospective celebrating Justice Ginsburg's inspirational life and barrier-breaking, history-making achievements. Ginsburg's narrative of strength, independence, and inspiring others is told primarily through commentary and curated images. It covers her formative years growing up in Brooklyn; her family bonds; her early academic and professional life; her marriage and partnership with Martin Ginsburg; her landmark cases; and the prejudice she overcame to reach the pinnacle of her field as the second woman to ascend to the country's highest court. It also highlights her many firsts--including her becoming the first female tenured professor at Columbia Law School and cofounding the first Women's Rights Project for the ACLU. With 130 photographs, highlights from notable speeches and judicial opinions, and a foreword by filmmaker Mimi Leder--director of the RBG biographical feature film On the Basis of Sex--this book pays tribute to Ginsburg, whose work on behalf of gender equality--and whose unprecedented career itself--indelibly changed American society. --From publisher description.

Since the publication of the first edition of Supreme Court Decisions and Women's Rights in 2000, there have been significant developments both in the make up of the Court and the rulings it has issued. The past decade saw the departure of highly revered Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and the historic appointment of the first Latina woman, Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Over that same time period, there have been several important decisions affecting gender law, including: Gonzales v. Carhart (2007), which upheld the federal ban on partial-birth abortion signed by President Bush in 2003 Ledbetter v. Goodyear Rubber & Tire Co. (2007) found that too much time had lapsed for former-Goodyear employee Lilly Ledbetter to seek back wages for the years she received discriminatory lower pay AT&T Corp. v. Hulteen (2009) held that companies that discriminated against pregnant women employees prior to passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, could carry that discrimination over into calculating pension pay. Featuring more than 100 cases and updated biographies, Supreme Court Decisions and Women's Rights provides a complete study of all the important issues and movements involving the Supreme Court and the role it plays in shaping women's rights.

The definitive biography of the first Latina and third woman ever appointed to the Supreme Court from the biographer of Condoleeza Rice and Laura Bush. The author delves behind the headlines to tell the compelling story of how the daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants living in the South Bronx became one of the greatest legal minds in the country. With insight and thoughtful analysis, she explores the tenacity that makes Sotomayor a sharp, fearless judge; the sense of compassion that drives her to seek justice for the underprivileged; and her strong community ties, which never let her forget where she came from. Drawing on candid interviews with figures from Sotomayor's personal and professional life as well as speeches, interviews with Sotomayor, and published papers, the author paints a revealing portrait of the woman who would come to meet President Obama's rigorous criteria for a Supreme Court justice and whose appointment would make history.

Like Abigail Adams, Malvina Shanklin Harlan witnessed--and gently influenced--national history from the unique perspective of a political leader's wife. Her husband, Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan (1833-1911), played a central role in some of the most significant civil rights decisions of his era, including his lone dissenting opinion in Plessy v. Ferguson, the infamous case that endorsed separate but equal segregation. And for fifty-seven years he was married to a woman who was busy making a mental record of their eventful lives. After Justice Harlan's death in 1911, Malvina wrote Some Memories of a Long Life, 1854-1911, as a testament to her husband's accomplishments and to her own. The memoir begins with Malvina, the daughter of passionate abolitionists, becoming the teenage bride of John Marshall Harlan, whose family owned more than a dozen slaves. Malvina depicts her life in antebellum Kentucky, and her courageous defense of the Harlan homestead during the Civil War. She writes of her husband's ascent in legal circles and his eventual appointment to the Supreme Court in 1877, where he was the author of opinions that continued to influence American race relations deep into the twentieth century. Yet Some Memories is more than a wife's account of a famous and powerful man. It chronicles the remarkable evolution of a young woman from Indiana who became a keen observer of both her family's life and that of her nation. When Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg began researching the history of the women associated with the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress sent her Malvina Harlan's unpublished manuscript. Recalling Abigail Adams's order to "remember the ladies," Justice Ginsburg has guided its long journey from forgotten document to published book. Some Memories of a Long Life includes a Foreword by Justice Ginsburg, as well as an Afterword by historian Linda Przybyszewski and an Epilogue of the Harlan legacy by Amelia Newcomb. According to Library Journal, "This is the sort of book you call a publishing event." From the Hardcover edition.

An account of the intertwined lives of the first two women to be appointed to the Supreme Court examines their respective religious and political beliefs while sharing insights into how they have influenced interpretations of the Constitution to promote equal rights for women

The inspiring and previously untold history of the women considered--but not selected--for the US Supreme Court In 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor became the first female justice on the United States Supreme Court after centuries of male appointments, a watershed moment in the long struggle for gender equality. Yet few know about the remarkable women considered in the decades before her triumph. Shortlisted tells the overlooked stories of nine extraordinary women--a cohort large enough to seat the entire Supreme Court--who appeared on presidential lists dating back to the 1930s. Florence Allen, the first female judge on the highest court in Ohio, was named repeatedly in those early years. Eight more followed, including Amalya Kearse, a federal appellate judge who was the first African American woman viewed as a potential Supreme Court nominee. Award-winning scholars Renee Knake Jefferson and Hannah Brenner Johnson cleverly weave together long-forgotten materials from presidential libraries and private archives to reveal the professional and personal lives of these accomplished women. In addition to filling a notable historical gap, the book exposes the tragedy of the shortlist. Listing and bypassing qualified female candidates creates a false appearance of diversity that preserves the status quo, a fate all too familiar for women, especially minorities. Shortlisted offers a roadmap to combat enduring bias and discrimination. It is a must-read for those seeking positions of power as well as for the powerful who select them in the legal profession and beyond.

Learn how O'Connor became the Court's most important vote on such issues as abortion, affirmative action, the death penalty, the role of religion in society, and the election of a president, decisions that shaped a generation of Americans.