Summer at the Women’s Law Project

by | Aug 24, 2018 | Women's Law Project

In August, WLP Staff Attorney Amal Bass testified before a panel of state lawmakers about what they can do to promote equal pay for Black women in Pennsylvania

We hope you enjoyed your summer. It’s been tough, but the urgency of the work that lies ahead finds us heading into autumn full of energy and optimism.

We’ve been preparing litigation, drafting briefs, testifying at policy hearings, organizing in our communities, and advocating for state and federal legislation that will affect the lives of hardworking Pennsylvanians.

Here are some highlights.

Good News Department

  • Anti-choice activists have been trying to collect personal information about doctors and people who work at healthcare clinics that provide abortion care by forcing state agencies to release identifying information from clinic licensure records. In the interest of safety, the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records denied the request. Attorneys at the Women’s Law Project represented abortion providers in the case. This case is on appeal to Commonwealth Court. Read more about it here.
  • In late June, we joined a coalition of Pittsburgh organizations to protest the appointment of a Pittsburgh judge with “a long line of questionable behavior” to preside over protection from abuse (PFA) contempt hearings. Survivors of domestic violence deserve better, and we said so. The judge has been re-assigned.
  • After being unlawfully dropped back in 2012, Pennsylvania’s cash assistance program known as General Assistance has been restored. Please share this news with anyone who may qualify.
  • Our Western Pennsylvania office is celebrating a partial victory. Allegheny County police were criminalizing the possession of condoms and cell phones when arresting women and trans people for prostitution, a tactic that directly defies public health recommendations in addition to being a clear abuse of power. The Pittsburgh Mayor’s office opposes such practices; the Allegheny County District Attorney agrees that criminalizing condoms raises public health concerns. While encouraging, there is still more to do to address the harm this practice has already inflicted and to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
  • In late May, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed a lower court’s ruling that upheld a Pennsylvania school district’s policy that permits transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity.

Challenges

  • The president of the United States should not be allowed to appoint a Supreme Court Justice while authorities are investigating election interference and possible collusion with a foreign power. We strongly oppose the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh, who has a record of siding against women and workers. Contact Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey and urge them to OPPOSE confirming Brett Kavanaugh.
  • We joined a brief defending immigrant minors’ right to abortion.
  • The Berks County Residential Detention Center is one of three U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in the country and the only immigrant detention center in the country to indefinitely hold women and children. On June 26, we gathered outside Governor Tom Wolf’s office in Philadelphia with Tuesdays with Toomey and the #ShutDownBerks to call on Governor Wolf to issue an Emergency Removal Order.
  • State-level abortion restrictions: With Roe under threat, we need your voice more than ever to fight state-level abortion restrictions. We expect the Pennsylvania Legislature to try to advance House Bill 2050 or another abortion restriction this fall.
  • Why has Pennsylvania refused to address its sexual harassment problem? WLP attorneys have endorsed a #MeToo policy agenda for Pennsylvania. Lawmakers will only have a few session days to advance these much-needed bills into law before the end of the two-year legislation session, which is in December.
  • Pregnant people are being excluded from evidence-based efforts to address the opioid crisis in Pennsylvania.

Catch up on WLP in the News

 

Catch up on our Blog Posts

What’s Next

On Sunday August 22 in Philadelphia, join more than a dozen organizations at a Unite for Justice rally starting at noon in the City Hall Courtyard to #StopKavanaugh.

On Monday, August 27 WLP Managing Attorney Terry L. Fromson is testifying about the need to improve sexual harassment protections in Philadelphia at a hear  Free Library of Northampton Township, 25 Upper Holland Road, Richboro.

On September 6, Managing Attorney Terry L. Fromson will testify (again) in Harrisburg about the #MeToo policy agenda for Pennsylvania we are calling on the Pennsylvania Legislature to immediately pass in order to improve sexual harassment protections in Pennsylvania.

Just Films is back! Just Films is our social justice film festival in Pittsburgh. From September 2018 to April 2019, we will screen landmark documentaries typically followed by a panel discussion. On September 12, our season opens with “Dolores,” a documentary exploring the work and legacy of legendary labor justice activist Dolores Huerta. Learn more and register here.  See our community partners here.

WLP is a proud sponsor of the Philadelphia March for End Rape Culture 2018 which will take place on Saturday September 29. Come say hello!

Save the date: The annual Women’s Law Project fundraising gala is approaching! This year, we return to the Academy of Natural Sciences on Friday, November 30. More info soon.

Help Us Fight for Gender Justice in Pennsylvania

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And check out our page of information and fact sheets for advocates.

The Women’s Law Project is a public interest law center in Pennsylvania devoted to advancing the rights of women and girls.

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