Fighting for gender justice in the courts, in public policy, and in our society.
Justice for her. Justice for all.

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Hey John,

I’ve been thinking a lot about friendship and community and the critical role we all play in the fight for justice. The SCOTUS refusing to act on abortion access in Texas caught many of us off guard, but between the Biden-Harris administration announcing its intent to protect abortion access and the House voting to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), which will guard abortion access from state-level bans and restrictions, we have reasons to “keep smiling, keep shining.” I know we will always have friends and we are not alone in our fight for gender justice. Here’s how we’ve been good friends at the Law Center.

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“Knowing you can always count on me, for sure/That’s what friends are for.”

I’ve written previously about amicus briefs we’ve filed, but did you know an amicus brief is essentially a letter from a friend of the court? When the Law Center files an amicus brief, we’re stepping in as a friend in other cases by bringing relevant policy arguments and facts to the court’s attention, which can play a critical role. We recently filed several amicus briefs: one in the District of Minnesota [[link removed]] and another to the Supreme Court of the United States (Yes, the same SCOTUS that just failed to protect the right to abortion in Texas.). We also joined partner organizations in a brief in the Supreme Court of California.

Watching the Supreme Court allow a blatantly unconstitutional ban remain in effect has felt like a huge setback in our movement, which is why having 72 organizations sign onto this amicus brief to protect abortion access in Mississippi and nationwide is so powerful! Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization [[link removed]] challenges a state law in Mississippi that bans abortion after 15 weeks. The brief emphasizes how allowing a 15-week ban or explicitly overturning the right to abortion and forcing people to carry a pregnancy to term denies liberty and equality to all people who can become pregnant. And it responds to Mississippi’s argument that advances in contraceptive access and gender equality remove the need for the right to abortion.

In our amicus brief to the District of Minnesota [[link removed]] , along with 32 organizations, we urged the court to allow the case to go to trial. Former students at Duluth Edison Charter Schools (DECS) are challenging that the school perpetuated a hostile learning environment for Black students, including race-based harassment. From mistreatment of hair and conscious ignorance of cultural heritage to racist, sexist enforcement of dress codes, the students claim DECS treated Black students differently especially in disciplinary actions.

“DECS also failed several times to protect Black girls in the same way they protected other students. For example, DECS punished a Black/biracial girl for defending herself against three harassers and singled her out for dress code issues, causing her to lose class time while white students who violated the dress code were able to remain in class.” (Sabrina Bernadel, Equal Justice Works Fellow)

In another matter, the California Court of Appeal unlawfully concluded that a provision in their state’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Long-Term Care Facility Residents’ Bill of Rights violated the First Amendment. The provision prohibits long-term care facilities and staff from willfully and repeatedly misusing a resident’s name and pronouns because of the resident’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. NWLC joined [[link removed]] the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, Equality California, and 15 other organizations on an amicus brief to the Supreme Court of California recommending the court grants a petition to review the case. If the decision stays, it could undermine state and federal non-discrimination laws across the country.
“I'll be on your side forever more/That's what friends are for”

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My main moment of joy comes from the now Emmy Award-winning writer, Michaela Coel. Y’all, I May Destroy You was a tough show to watch, but it was also one of those stories that needed to be told. We don’t hear enough about Black survivors of sexual violence particularly from their own perspectives. She led by example and wrote a tale that scared her and, even if she didn’t win an Emmy, she has set a precedent for other survivors in the entertainment industry.

And Lucy Dacus [[link removed]] redirecting money from upcoming shows in Texas to abortion funds is bringing so much joy. Because truly, it’s one thing to post a tweet in solidarity (no shade… maybe) or tell women [[link removed]] who to have sex with (I appreciate your enthusiasm, but nah, sis.), but it is quite the statement to put your money (and influence) where your activism is.

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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