From the category archives:

legislation

President Obama to Sign Law Targeting Sexual Violence Against Native American Women

by Cara July 29, 2010

I’m incredibly pleased to be able to pass along some great news for a change — the Tribal Law and Order Act, which I  had previously urged all of you to support, and which the infinitely awesome Pretty Bird Woman House vocally approves, has passed both houses of Congress and it set to be signed [...]

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Alabama Expands Abuse Protection Law to Cover Dating Relationships

by Cara July 9, 2010

Yesterday, a new domestic violence law went into effect in Alabama. The changes provide greater privacy to victims filing protection orders, and expand the definition of abuse to include a wider range of relationships — namely, dating relationships. Changes to Alabama’s abuse protection law will now cover more people when it comes to domestic violence. [...]

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Illinois Passes Law Requiring That All Rape Kits Be Tested

by Cara July 8, 2010

As reports of untested rape kits across the U.S. just keep on rolling in, Illinois has passed a law mandating that every rape kit be tested. Facing criticism that physical evidence from sexual assault cases in Illinois often went unanalyzed, Gov. Patrick J. Quinn this week signed a law requiring the police to test all [...]

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Experts Believe Arizona Immigration Law Will Harm Domestic Abuse Victims

by Cara July 6, 2010

By now, most of you have probably heard of SB 1070 — the abhorrent Arizona immigration law that is soon to take effect. For those who haven’t heard of the law or who need a refresher, SB 1070 not only has the effect of legalizing racial profiling, it requires it of police. Once in effect, [...]

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Connecticut Increases Funding for Domestic Violence Prevention and Response

by Cara July 1, 2010

I love having good news instead of bad news to pass along, and it’s not incredibly often that I get it. Connecticut has recently passed a large package of anti-domestic violence laws. One of the portions of the package going into effect today is an increase in funding for domestic violence shelters — specifically, almost [...]

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NY Bill Allows Sex Trafficking Victims to Clear Prostitution Convictions

by Cara June 28, 2010

Good News: earlier this month, the New York State legislature passed a bill allowing victims of sex trafficking to have prostitution convictions against them vacated. The bill currently only awaits Governor Paterson’s signature, but activists are hopeful that he will give it his stamp of approval: Sex trafficking victims may soon be able to have [...]

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Anti-Choice Ultrasound Laws Don’t Change Abortion Rates, But Continue Getting Tougher

by Cara June 1, 2010

Last last week, the New York Times published an article about the growing wave of U.S. state anti-abortion laws that center on ultrasounds. Specifically, the state laws in question usually either require that ultrasounds be performed prior to an abortion or that the woman (or person of a different gender seeking an abortion, though they [...]

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Man Reported Police Sexual Assault Against His Girlfriend, Now Faces Deportation

by Cara May 27, 2010

The man pictured above did a very, very scary thing. This man pictured above did the right thing. And for calling 911 while a police officer sexually assaulted his girlfriend during a traffic stop, Abel Moreno was arrested. His girlfriend was arrested, too. Then, things got even worse. Several things then happened. Five other women [...]

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Financial Interests Get in the Way of Meaningful Rights for Domestic Violence Victims

by Cara May 14, 2010

A new Massachusetts bill regarding victims of domestic violence has recently passed the State Senate, and is headed to the House. If approved, the bill would guarantee workers who are also victims of intimate partner violence some protections from their employers: The approved bill would require businesses to give employees who are victims of domestic [...]

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Federal Court Rules That Transgender Inmates Have the Right to Medical Care

by Cara April 2, 2010

Via Questioning Transphobia and Transgriot, some great news out of Wisconsin. A federal court has struck down a state law that denied hormone treatment to trans* people, despite its role as necessary care. The case was brought by the ACLU, Lamda Legal, and a group of incarcerated trans women who had been denied treatment. The [...]

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