Join me and other young feminists at the NOW National Conference this weekend

Please join me, my husband and NOW – NYS Young Feminist Task Force member Micah Bochart, member Talia, and co-chair Esty Stein at the national conference below.  Three of us are presenting on the following panels.  It should be fun! 

Ten Days of Action to Save the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Ten Days of Action to Save VAWA:
Urge Congress to Pass VAWA Now!

June 26, 2012

Take Action: Please call your senators and representative and urge them to pass the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act now. Tell them, "We can't wait any longer -- survivors of violence need your help right away!"

TAKE PART IN THE NATIONAL 10 DAYS OF ACTION FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA)

Please forward widely!

June 25, 2012

THE NATIONAL 10 DAYS OF ACTION FOR VAWA START THIS WEEK!

WILL YOU TAKE PART TO ENSURE THAT CONGRESS PASSES A FINAL VAWA THAT INCLUDES ALL VICTIMS?

Act with us- in DC or your hometown- to tell Congress they must get VAWA moving before they go on their July 4^th vacation. Before the end of summer, Congress needs to send a REAL VAWA to the President to sign with all of the inclusive provisions in S. 1925. The final VAWA must serve ALL victims and contain NO rollbacks to the current VAWA and we need to get movement so that can happen. As more and more legislation is stalled due to Congressional gridlock, we need Congressional leaders to hear our strong and united message once and for all: your work on VAWA is not over.  We have too much at stake and doing nothing is not an option. Stand with us during our National 10 Days of Action as we fight to push VAWA over the finish line!

PARTICIPATE IN OUR 10 DAYS OF ACTION TO SAVE VAWA FROM JUNE 24^TH – JULY 4^TH!  DO ONE OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES BELOW!

Click here for updates and new information.

NOW Conference Opens June 29 in Baltimore, Takes on War on Women

For Immediate Release
Contact: Latoya Veal, 202-628-8669, ext. 116

Annual NOW Conference Opens June 29
in Baltimore, Takes on War on Women

June 25, 2012
Hundreds of women's rights activists and supporters from every corner of the nation will converge in Baltimore, Md., this weekend, June 29 - July 1, at the National Organization for Women annual conference. This year's conference, entitled "Energize! Organize! Stop the War on Women," will focus on key issues that have been under attack, such as contraception coverage and the Violence Against Women Act, and NOW will adopt an agenda for the year ahead that addresses the ongoing War on Women.

Take part in our National 10 Days of Action for Violence Against Women ACt VAWA!

From Pat Reuss of the National Organization for Women (NOW)

Please forward widely!

June 21, 2012

TAKE PART IN OUR NATIONAL 10 DAYS OF ACTION FOR VAWA!

Tell Congressional Leadership: Get The REAL VAWA (S.1925) Passed!

Time is running out! Act with us- in DC or your hometown- to tell Congress they must pass a VAWA before they go on their July 4^th vacation as part of our National 10 Days of Action for VAWA! Congress needs to send a REAL VAWA, with all of the provisions in S. 1925 included, to the President that serves ALL victims and contains NO rollbacks to the current VAWA.  As more and more legislation is stalled due to Congressional gridlock, we need Congressional leaders to hear our strong and united message once and for all: your work on VAWA is not over.  We have too much at stake and doing nothing is not an option. Stand with us as during our National 10 Days of Action as we fight to push VAWA over the finish line!

PARTICIPATE IN OUR 10 DAYS OF ACTION TO SAVE VAWA FROM JUNE 24 – JULY 4^TH!  DO ONE OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING SIX ACTIVITIES!

Check http://4vawa.org/pages/vawa-10-days-of-action-8560 for updates and new information! 

Act fast: National NOW Conference online registration re-opened by popular demand!

June 19, 2012
I can't believe it -- after all the planning and organizing, the 2012 National NOW Conference is less than two weeks away! Will you be joining me in Baltimore, Md., June 29-July 1? I sure hope so, because this is an incredible opportunity for the national officers to connect with the grassroots of NOW, for our members to network with each other, and for those new to NOW to get a feel for what we're all about.

TELL CONGRESS TO GET VAWA PASSED before it's too late!

June 14, 2012

Tell Congressional Leadership: Get A Final VAWA Passed! 

Do it now, do it right, do your job!

We need to push Congress to act on VAWA before it's too late! And the VAWA that is passed MUST be the real VAWA that serves ALL victims and contains NO rollbacks to the current VAWA. As more and more legislation is stalled due to Congressional gridlock, we need Congressional leaders to hear our strong and united message once and for all: your work on VAWA is not over. We need you to work out a way to go to conference and send a bill to the President that closely mirrors the bipartisan Senate-passed bill, S. 1925, the REAL VAWA. Victims of violence and the counseling, medical, law enforcement and service provider professionals who serve them are relying on you to pass an inclusive VAWA bill- we have too much at stake and doing nothing is not an option.

Wed, June 20th: Stand Up for the Women of Wal-Mart with National Organization for Women

On Wednesday, June 20, join women's rights advocates outside the Supreme Court to stand with the women of Wal-Mart.

Action Alert: Mothers, Children at Risk as Fathers' Rights Groups Seek Legitimacy for Phony Mental "Disorder"

Please send a message to the APA via their interactive website. Tell the APA that you oppose the inclusion of the so-called parental alienation syndrome in DSM-5 in ANY FORM. Please make sure to emphasize the fact that the American Bar Association has determined PAS to be inadmissible in court because it does not meet evidentiary standards. Accusations of PAS protect real abusers at the expense of women and children who have already been victimized.

Tell State Electeds to Support Women by passing the Women's Workforce Bill

WOMEN NEED GOOD JOBS!

IT IS THE END OF SESSION AND WE NEED YOUR HELP TODAY!

Join the New Campaign Against Sex Segregation in K-12 Public Schools

From The Feminist Majority Foundation

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) recently launched "Teach Kids, Not Stereotypes Campaign," which calls for the end of unlawful and ineffective sex segregated programs in public schools. This campaign complements an earlier and still necessary campaign to "Rescind the Bush Administration 2006 Regulation Weakening prohibitions Against Sex Discrimination in Education".

Urgent: Join feminist leaders in defeating "religious liberties" amendment

We're emailing you together because the situation is critical. Measure 3*, the so-called "religious liberties" measure on the June 12th primary ballot in North Dakota, is a dangerous and sweeping amendment that could be a huge blow to women's rights. Our message is urgent. We must stop this outrageous and unnecessary state constitutional amendment that simply goes too far and could deny a woman basic medical care such as birth control. Election day is just six days away, and we are entering the final days of the campaign to defeat this deceptive anti-woman amendment. Help the statewide North Dakotans Against Measure 3 campaign run desperately needed television and radio ads. This dangerous amendment could provide a defense to wife beaters and child abusers – who could claim their religious beliefs allow them to use violence against family members. It could also open the door, based on religious beliefs, to sex discrimination and the denial of birth control and other fundamental services and protections. Undoubtedly, it would lead to many court cases. If this extreme measure passes, it could spread from state to state, threatening laws against sex discrimination, domestic violence, child abuse and more. We can't let this happen. Contribute now to defeat this dangerous ballot measure. Your emergency contribution will go to the statewide North Dakota coalition which is purchasing television and radio ads. Both Feminist Majority Foundation and National Organization for Women members and supporters are working hard in North Dakota to alert voters to the possible consequences of this dangerous amendment. You can help in this get-out-the-vote effort by urging everyone you know in North Dakota -- your friends, family, co-workers or members of groups you are affiliated with -- to Vote No on Measure 3. With your help, the outrageous Measure 3 will be defeated. Stop this drastic anti-woman state constitutional amendment in its tracks. For Women's Lives, Terry O'Neill, President National Organization for Women Eleanor Smeal, President Feminist Majority Foundation P.S. I know you care about women's rights and lives. We don't have a moment to waste.   * This initiated constitutional measure would add a new section to Article I of the North Dakota Constitution stating, "Government may not burden a person's or religious organization's religious liberty. The right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief may not be burdened unless the government proves it has a compelling governmental interest in infringing the specific act or refusal to act and has used the least restrictive means to further that interest. A burden includes indirect burdens such as withholding benefits, assessing penalties, or an exclusion from programs or access to facilities." ________________________________________ North Dakota state law requires us to report the name, address, occupation, employer, and principal place of business of all out-of-state contributors giving more than $100 in the aggregate in a calendar year. Paid for by North Dakota Students Voting No on 3, Sarah Shanks, Campaign Organizer.

Microaggressions: please add your racist/sexist/classist/ableist examples

I was going to ask all of you to help me compile a list of sayings that reveal micro aggressions.  However, I was pleasantly surprised to come across the following site:

http://www.microaggressions.com/about/

I hope you will add your own examples and learn from the ones already there.

For equality,
Jerin

Violence Against Women Act ALERT - National Day of Action June 26th!!

From Pat Reuss of The National Organization for Women
Please forward widely!

June 7, 2012

Congress MUST pass a Violence Against Women Act!

Doing nothing is not an option!  A Call to Action!

Everyone has done a great job with your meetings, letters to the editors, calls and emails. We are working on a final push to get Congress to pass VAWA.  During the next three weeks your efforts are essential and will determine the passage of the Real VAWA.

In these final days Congress must see a groundswell that cannot be ignored.  We are issuing a call for a National Day of Action on Tuesday, June 26^th to reauthorize the real VAWA.   On that day we will be organizing a national action on Capitol Hill and local actions across this country.  Every justice loving person is needed now to raise their voice and tell Congress not to go backward but move forward to reauthorize the Real VAWA.

The War on Women by the Ridiculous Numbers

From Jezebel:

1,100

Total number of reproductive rights-related laws introduced by state lawmakers in 2011.

604

Number of abortion and reproductive rights-related provisions introduced at the state level as of June 1.

8.2%

The US unemployment rate.

0

Number of jobs created by wasting time debating hundreds of reproductive rights-restricting laws.

Senate Fails Women on Equal Pay

Senate Fails Women on Equal Pay
Statement of NOW President Terry O'Neill

June 5, 2012
The National Organization for Women is deeply disappointed that conservatives in the U.S. Senate this afternoon prevented the Paycheck Fairness Act from being brought up for a debate and receiving a vote. Today, this bill had 52 votes to move forward, and the support of the majority of the Senate. By blocking this commonsense law, right-wing legislators have expanded the War on Women. But women are paying attention, and will remember in November.

TAKE ACTION: TELL CONGRESS TO GET Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) DONE!

From Pat Reuss of The National Organization for Women

Please forward widely!

May 31, 2012

Tell Your Members of Congress: Get VAWA Done! 

Doing nothing is not an option!

Congress needs to keep hearing about VAWA! Please contact your own Senators and Representatives and House and Senate leadership today with a simple message: your work on VAWA is not over. We need you to go to conference and send a bill to the President that closely mirrors the bipartisan Senate-passed bill, S. 1925, the REAL VAWA. Victims of violence and the professionals who serve them are relying on you to pass an inclusive VAWA bill-- doing nothing is not an option!

ACTION 1: Urge your Representatives and Senators to go to conference and swiftly pass a VAWA that includes all victims!

ACTION 2: Contact House and Senate leadership to urge them to stop stalling on VAWA and go to conference to produce a VAWA that includes all victims!

Hundreds of Women's Rights Activists to Convene in Baltimore

For Immediate Release
Contact: Latoya Veal, 202-628-8669, ext. 116

Hundreds of Women's Rights Activists to Convene in Baltimore

June 4, 2012
The nation's largest annual gathering of grassroots women's rights activists and allies will take place in Baltimore, Md., on June 29-July 1, 2012, at the National Organization for Women National Conference. Hundreds of women and men will convene to strategize and organize a vision for the months ahead in the fight for women's equality.

GOP Spokesperson: “Lets Hurl Some Acid” at Female Dems

In case any of you hear arguments that the war on women is made up, just share the following story with them.

Jay Townsend, campaign spokesman for Rep. Nan Hayworth (R, NY), responded to a question from a constituent about gas prices that was critical of his boss by suggesting (the following):

Here's the comment:

Listen to Tom. What a little bee he has in his bonnet. Buzz Buzz. My question today … when is Tommy boy going to weigh in on all the Lilly Ledbetter hypocrites who claim to be fighting the War on Women? Let's hurl some acid at those female democratic Senators who won't abide the mandates they want to impose on the private sector.

With a few clicks, contact your legislators and news outlets for The Reproductive Health Act

With only one month remaining in the legislative session, now more than ever, we must tell our NYS Legislators that women need access to reproductive health care. As many of you know, women's rights and specifically reproductive rights are under attack in the War on Women.

The Reproductive Health Act has support from the majority of New York State residents (70%); NYS Legislators need to hear from you regarding this legislation. This act, if signed into law, will improve the health of every woman who resides in New York State, giving her access of contraception and safe and legal abortions without interference from the government. It will put abortion procedures in the health code where they belong, instead of the penal code.

Ask Your Senators to Support Equal Pay: Call 1-888-876-9527

For the last two weeks, supporters of equal pay have been making calls to the Senate, and we can't thank you enough. Well, we still need your calls, and we're excited to let you know that the toll-free number is still working, so please read on . . .
U.S. women need fair pay now -- and two minutes of your time could help them get it!
The Paycheck Fairness Act directly affects working women and families in your state and across the country. Nationally, a typical woman working full time, year round still is paid only 77 cents for every dollar a typical man is paid. PFA is the next step in closing this disparity. Call your senators today at 1-888-876-9527 and ask them to support the Paycheck Fairness Act!