[[link removed]] | FEB 2024
WELCOME TO OUR MONTHLY
Feminist Majority Political Report
HERE'S THE BEST FROM THE FEMINIST NEWSWIRE
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From the Desk of Ellie Smeal...
Dear John,
I am delighted to be sending you the second edition of our monthly newsletter, dedicated to keeping our friends and supporters up to date with the very latest developments of interest and concern to our community.
Despite being only two months into 2024, this year has already been a busy and often shocking period. We find ourselves deeply engaged in events that hold significant implications for the forthcoming 2024 elections and, indeed, for the very future of our personal rights, freedoms, and our democracy itself.
With all that is at stake in the election, we have already begun gearing up for November. We will be hiring on campuses in battleground states across the country to mobilize students and get out the student vote.
In this issue, we shed light on the current battles for reproductive justice, the role of abortion in the upcoming election, and the status of the ERA, among other pertinent topics that demand our collective vigilance. The Feminist Majority Political Action Committee has also just made our initial endorsements for 2024. You can find the full list here [[link removed]] !
Your invaluable support has been instrumental in our work. Thank you for being such an important part of our efforts and for your continuing support and commitment to future successes. I look forward to updating you again soon.
For equality,
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Ellie Smeal, President
Texas woman denied care while experiencing ectopic pregnancy
EMMA HALL | FEBRUARY 26
Earlier this month, 25 year old Kelsie Norris-De La Cruz was denied a life saving surgery in Texas after experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, a pregnancy complication in which a fertilized egg attaches itself to a fallopian tube, ovary, or somewhere else outside the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies are very dangerous complications and can be fatal, where the fallopian tube or ovary can stretch too much during the pregnancy and rupture, leading to infection, massive bleeding, and even death. Often treated through surgical procedures, ectopic pregnancies need to be removed as soon as possible before rupturing to reduce the amount of harm caused, a procedure Kelsie Norris-De La Cruz was denied. A fertilized egg cannot survive during an ectopic pregnancy.
Why was the surgical procedure at first denied? The doctors feared prosecution for termination of the pregnancy in the face of strict abortion bans. Though Texas law has included exceptions to abortion bans for medical emergencies, this simply has proven not to be enough. In this case, Norris-De La Cruz's life was in danger and she was lucky to be treated at a neighboring hospital in Texas 24 hours later.
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The ERA Discharge Petition: Moving Forward
JAHARRA ANGLIN STUBBS | FEBRUARY 13
In January of 2023, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) introduced H.J.Res.25 in the House to remove the arbitrary deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. The resolution has 209 co-sponsors. At the same time, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced an identical resolution in the Senate, S.J.Res.4, with 53 co-sponsors.
In order to force H.J.Res.25 to a vote, Rep. Pressley launched a discharge petition for the bill. Once a majority of the House, 218 members, have signed the discharge petition, “it must immediately be brought before the full chamber for a vote,” bypassing the Republican Speaker of the House. The discharge petition currently has 206 signers. Reps. Ed Case (HI-01) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) are the most recent signers, adding their names on February 15th, 2024. Only 12 more members need to sign on to bring it to a vote. Check to see if your representative has signed on here! [[link removed]]
The Feminist Majority Foundation, along with the ERA Coalition and its partners -- which include the League of Women Voters, AAUW, YWCA, and more -- have been working tirelessly to secure the signatures on the discharge petition and are very close to reaching a majority. FMF and the coalition intend to make this a top issue for the 2024 elections.
In 2023, the Feminist Majority Foundation and Ms. Magazine commissioned Lake Research Partners to conduct a survey to determine the influence of abortion rights and the Equal Rights Amendment in turning out the vote. The polling shows that the ERA will be one of driving forces in the 2024 election. Abortion and the ERA are both strong issues that increase voter turnout separately, but are even more powerful when combined. Messaging that includes both abortion access and the ERA is incredibly motivating in mobilizing voters, especially young women.
Sign4ERA has started a petition campaign to demand that Congress takes immediate action to certify the Equal Rights Amendment. Add your name here! [[link removed]]
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Poster from FMF's abortion access campaign in the 1990s.
Crossing State Lines: The Vital Role of Telehealth Shield Laws in Reproductive Healthcare Access
GWENDOLYN COMAI | FEBRUARY 23
Telehealth has emerged as a transformative force in healthcare, breaking down barriers to access and revolutionizing the way patients connect with their healthcare providers. Particularly in the realm of reproductive healthcare, telemedicine has become an indispensable tool, offering a lifeline to individuals facing obstacles in accessing vital services. From the convenience it offers patients to the crucial role it plays in circumventing restrictive policies, telehealth is reshaping the landscape of reproductive healthcare access.
Telemedicine abortion shield laws have become a critical resource for individuals living in states where abortion restrictions or bans prevent them from accessing medication abortion -- or abortion through pills rather than a surgical procedure. Protected by these shield laws, medical professionals who live in states where abortion pills are accessible are able to meet online with patients, then prescribe and ship abortion pills to the patient. They then meet with the patient again online when they take the medication. In places where abortion is restricted or banned, telemedicine abortion shield laws have been used by the leading telemedicine abortion provider, Aid Access, to provide medication abortion to 7,000 patients a month.
Telemedicine abortion shield laws are active in Massachusetts, Washington, Colorado, Vermont, New York and California. So far, the laws have not been challenged by the courts, but it is predicted that they will not go unchallenged for long.
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Poster from FMF's abortion access campaign in the 1990s. Today, 74% of all voters support a person’s right to make their own reproductive decisions without government interference.
Alabama Supreme Court rules frozen embryos qualify as “children”
HANNAH IRVINE | FEBRUARY 20
The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that embryos outside of the womb qualify as children in a ruling that further thwarts reproductive freedom in the state. In the 131 page opinion, Alabama judges quoted the Bible before ultimately coming to a 7-2 decision that threatens access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.
The case comes after two Alabama couples pursuing IVF sued the Alabama Mobile Infirmary Medical Centre after a patient was able to break into the hospital’s cryogenic facility and subsequently dropped two embryos. The embryos at this stage have been chosen as suitable for possible transfer into the uterus. Even though they have passed this hurdle, they are still 50% likely to fail when transferred.
The two plaintiffs filed their complaints under Alabama’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. The judges used this act as the legal basis for their decision, citing that the “Wrongful Death of a Minor Act applies on its face to all unborn children, without limitation.” This landmark ruling is not only a clear product of a pro-life agenda strengthened by religious beliefs but also serves as a reminder of the strict control that Alabama lawmakers want over reproductive decisions in the state.
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Abortion Emerges as Decisive Factor in New York’s 3rd Congressional District Special Election
HANNAH IRVINE | FEBRUARY 15
In the recent special election held on February 13th for New York’s 3rd Congressional District, the victory of Democrat Tom Suozzi over Republican Mazi Pilips underscored the significance of abortion as a pivotal issue this election season. Suozzi’s triumph, with 53.9% of the vote against Pilips’ 46.1%, reflected a strategic campaign focus on reproductive rights and women’s health.
Suozzi’s Embrace of Abortion Rights
Throughout his campaign, Suozzi strategically centered his platform on defending reproductive rights. His website prominently featured a “10 Point Plan,” highlighting his commitment to safeguarding abortion access and countering what he termed “extreme attacks on reproductive freedom.” Suozzi’s unequivocal support for abortion rights earned him endorsements from prominent organizations like Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America. He emphasized the urgency of codifying Roe v. Wade into law and condemned recent attempts to curtail abortion rights in various states.
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A Win For Youth in Virginia
HANNAH IRVINE | FEBRUARY 14
On February 13th, the Virginia House of Delegates voted to pass House Bill 994, a bill that bans child marriage in all its forms. Virginia was one of the first states to ban child marriage in 2016, but there has always been a loophole allowing emancipated children between 16-18 years old to get married. Now, Virginians have to be 18 in order to marry. The loophole has historically raised concern for many organizations who saw it as an opportunity for children, disproportionately girls, to be exploited and coerced.
Before 2016, there was no minimum age requirement to get married in Virginia, just certain criteria that had to be met for a judge to approve the marriage. Usually, this was because a young girl was pregnant, some aged 12 and 13. Almost 4,500 minors were married between 2004 and 2013 – and about 90% of those minors were girls who married adult men.
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Gender Apartheid Constantly Expanding in Afghanistan
ANSELMA ELLINGWOOD | FEBRUARY 29
Since the Taliban returned to power two and a half years ago, the regime has persisted in finding ways to curtail women’s rights and lives, with its most recent ban on women contacting radio stations. The Taliban has issued over 100 edicts [[link removed]] to limit and ban women and girls’ access to employment, education, travel, and their ability to go to parks, shops, bathhouses, and most public spaces. Afghan women and girls are essentially confined to their homes.
In February, the Taliban prohibited women from calling into radio stations in Khost province to publicly express their opinions. In Khost, the de facto authorities announced through an official statement that women are prohibited from contacting local radio and television channels. Local media outlets were instructed not to accept phone calls from girls, according to the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC).
The Feminist Majority Foundation is participating in a campaign to stop gender apartheid in Afghanistan, actively advocating for the human rights of Afghan women and girls. This effort involves building a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to resisting the recognition and legitimization of the Taliban.
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Kamala Harris’ speaking tour highlights the significance of abortion in the election
JAHARRA ANGLIN STUBBS | FEBRUARY 8
On January 22, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris began her nationwide Reproductive Freedoms Tour on what should have been the 51st anniversary of the passing of Roe V. Wade . Arguably, the Vice President’s decision to start the tour on the anniversary is a testament to the important role that reproductive rights will play in the election, especially in the battleground state of Wisconsin, where the tour commenced. In Wisconsin, upon the Supreme Court’s overturning, abortion in the state was deemed illegal for 15 months.
Historically, reproductive rights have been a polarizing issue for the American people. This visible contention is due to the pro-choice and pro-life dichotomy birthed out of the fight for rights, which inevitably rethought the civil liberties of all people. This sentiment has been at the heart of the tour’s mission, especially as the Vice President exclaimed, "Every time reproductive freedom has been on the ballot, the people of American have voted for freedom." It is not that reproductive rights have become merely a rallying issue for women, but a call to action for all Americans.
As the Vice President stands on the battlefield where reproductive rights continue to be targeted, the American people are being called into action to make a decision not in the name of choice but in the name of freedom. Thus, in this prime moment, Vice President Harris finds herself persuading voters to consider how the overturning of Roe has led to drastic changes that challenge the liberties and freedom that our founders fought for.
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Early Bird Registration is still open! [[link removed]]
Scan the QR Code or follow this link [bit.ly/NYFLC2024] to register!
You can find more details at feministcampus.org/conference. [[link removed]] Email Madelyn Amos at [email protected] with any questions.
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