John, the violence this weekend in Chicago, El Paso, and Dayton was just the latest heartbreaking reminder that our country needs to get serious about solving our appalling gun violence problem. Text MITCH to 90975 to call your Senators and demand that they return from recess for an emergency special session on ending gun violence.

We’re On Our Way to #20StatesBy2020

Ever since the MeToo movement started by Tarana Burke became a viral hashtag and cultural touchstone, many have asked questions about the movement’s impact and staying power. One key indicator of its influence? Advocates’ success in pushing state legislatures to take action. As our Workplace Justice team detailed in our latest report, “Progress in Advancing Me Too Workplace Reforms in #20StatesBy2020,” state legislators around the country have introduced almost 200 bills in the last two years to strengthen workplace protections against sexual harassment. Even more importantly, fifteen states have already passed new laws, enacting reforms like extending the statute of limitations for filing harassment claims, limiting or banning employers from forcing employees to sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) that make it easier for harassers to hide their abusive behavior, and ensuring protections include frequently overlooked workers including interns, graduate students, and independent contractors.

As we continue waiting to see whether Congress will advance key pieces of legislation like the BE HEARD Act at the federal level, it’s incredibly important that state legislators are moving forward and taking positive action. As our Vice President for Education and Workplace Justice Emily Martin said, “Momentum is building among both conservative and progressive state legislators to pass reforms to fight harassment and abuse in the workplace—and that’s exciting to see. State legislatures across the country are leading in responding to the courage of survivors demanding change with structural reform to move the needle on workplace harassment. This is a movement that’s shifting workplace culture and the laws that shape it—and we are on the path to achieving real change in 20 states by 2020.” Click here to read and share more about the progress happening in states around the country.

Must-Dos:

• We have until August 13 to make our voices heard to protect health care rights for all of us! Tell the Trump-Pence administration to #PutPatientsFirst and #ProtectTransHealth.
• We’re having serious conversations about our nation’s future in the run-up to the 2020 elections, and debate moderators play an important role in deciding which issues are elevated and how they are framed for the public. Yet so far this year, not a single presidential debate has included Black women or other women of color as moderators. Tell the networks to do better by having women of color moderators in the upcoming debates.

Must-Reads:

• Title IX protects the rights of all student survivors, regardless of gender. Survivors at all-male institutions like Morehouse College deserve to be heard.
• Olympic figure skater Ashley Wagner waited a decade to talk openly about being sexually assaulted. Here are some of the reasons why.
• Queer representation in the media matters, including on reality TV.

Your Feminist Moment of Joy

Few things are cooler than getting to do what you love with people you admire. That’s why I was so here for Maren Morris’ weepy emoji-ed tweet of this backstage clip of Dolly Parton and The Highwomen singing “Eagle When She Flies.” Come for the soaring close harmonies, stay for Dolly extending her arm to warmly bring Maren into the circle (and Jason Isbell casually crying in the background). Women welcoming each other and making magic together is my favorite genre of everything.