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Hey John,
We’ve been busy at the Law Center in between celebrating the anniversary of title IX, fighting for the Equality Act, and releasing a new episode of We, The Feminists. But I’ve also been aggressively side-eyeing performative activism this month. From tacky rainbow fashion (um… should we call it fashion?) by big corporations to Juneteenth being declared an official holiday, these gestures can’t take the place of justice for LGBTQ folks or descendants of enslaved people. I mean, Pride Month started because trans activists of color were protesting police brutality. Monuments, awareness, and observances are fine, but rights, full protection, and living freely without fear of violence and discrimination sounds infinitely better. Don’t you think?
It’s an anniversary! And we have work to do.
We celebrated 49 years of Title IX on June 23. The legislation promised women and girls access to education without fear of discrimination. And we’ve fought tirelessly to protect those rights for the last four years while Betsy DeVos led the Department of Education. She made changes last year that weakened protections against sexual assault and sexual harassment in schools and made schools less safe and welcoming for students. We’re pushing the Biden administration to restore and strengthen Title IX protections for all students, protect survivors from retaliation, and ensure fair, equitable, and prompt disciplinary procedures that also preserve some flexibility for schools.
Title IX is for everyone. And fairness and equity should be at the center of addressing and preventing sexual harassment and assault. We must work to change our institutions and culture to prevent sexual harassment and assault in schools. Watch our TikTok and learn about how Title IX works!
Make it plain for LGBTQ rights.
Last year, in the Bostock case, the Supreme Court affirmed LGBTQ workers have federal law protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. And while we know this decision should apply to students, tenants, and more, our work is far from done. Federal civil rights law and many states still lack explicit non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people in housing, schools, health care, and public places.
We need Congress to pass the Equality Act and our nation’s civil rights laws to close gaps in the current law and make clear that discrimination against LGBTQ people is illegal. Read more about how the Biden administration is already working to implement the Bostock decision across the contexts of our lives and tell Congress to pass the Equality Act now.
Must Reads:
- Gillian Branstetter, Media Manager, was featured in PR Week about her professional journey from reporter to press secretary and what it means to recognize and celebrate the work of LGBTQ people in public relations. “At a time when activists are working to erase transgender people from public life, it’s critically important to center our voices in the fight for our own safety.” Read the full article.
- Fatima Goss Graves wrote an opinion piece for CNN about the important of care work to our nation’s infrastructure. “Investing in care infrastructure will create good jobs that will support millions of people in the short and long term, as the pandemic begins to recede and as the population ages and our need for care grows ever more dire.” Read the full article.
- We LOVE equal pay data at the Law Center. We know data can lead to passing important legislation, like the Equal Pay Act of 1963. But when it comes to LGBTQ Equal Pay, the numbers just aren’t there. Read this blog by Caitlin Panarella, Marketing and Communications Assistant, on how data is used and why we need wage gap data for LGBTQ workers.
- “A lot of people don’t know about this because people with disabilities are often not given that chance to talk about their experiences,” Ma’ayan Anafi, Senior Counsel, was quoted in the Daily Beast. “What’s happening to Britney Spears is actually very common. What’s different is Britney Spears has a platform to share it with the world.” Read the article.
Feminist Moment of Joy
Can I share a secret? I don’t have an athletic bone in my body. While two of my siblings played football and ran track in high school respectively, I went rogue, attended a performing arts high school, and tried my hand at volleyball. But dislocating fingers and practicing violin and piano aren’t compatible. So I hung up my jersey after one season and continued my relationship with Beethoven and Debussy. Despite my lack of athleticism, I am ecstatic about the Olympics this year! I can’t wait to cheer on all the ladies from Simone Manuel and Sha’Carri Richardson to the women’s soccer and basketball teams. And whether the ladies are resting like Naomi Osaka or pushing through naysayers like Simone Biles before their big competitions, there’s immense pride in knowing that women who look like you are competing with other athletes from around the world. Black Girl Olympics!
There are many analogies about plants and people—we need water, we need sun, and we grow at our own pace. But here’s another: what’s good for one or several plants isn’t necessarily good for all plants. Meet Pepper Ann—yes, like my favorite childhood redhead who’s too cool for seventh grade. Pepper Ann’s first weeks in my new sunny apartment were a cry for help; she started dropping leaves (almost daily!) and looked sad. I learned this peperomia frost doesn’t need a lot of bright, direct sunlight. I moved her to a small corner with indirect sunlight and, voila! Pepper Ann is beginning to thrive, y’all! And all I had to do was place her in a section of the apartment that suits her.
Justice is the same way. We can’t overlook policies and laws—or a lack thereof—just because they work for a handful of people. That’s why Title IX and the Equality Act are so crucial. They close those gaps; they are like the bits of shade for my low-light plants. And what’s great is that creating places for low-light plants to thrive doesn’t take away from the people—or plants—who prefer and still have access to the sunlight.
For justice (and joy) for her and all,
LySaundra Campbell
she/her/hers
Writer and Editor
National Women’s Law Center
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