For those of you who haven’t voted yet, something to think about…
Republicans vs. Equal Pay For Women
How much do women lose over a lifetime of earning less than men?
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| Click pic to enlarge |
By age 65, the average woman will have lost $431,000 over her working lifetime because of the earnings gap.
It’s very simple – Women deserve equal pay for equal work.
Come on Congress, fix this.
New Hampshire Republican jokes about domestic violence
New Hampshire Republican state Rep. Kyle Tasker thinks domestic violence is funny. So much so that he took to Facebook to joke about it.
Tasker was attempting to stand up for Republican Mark Warden, who last year said that some people “like being in abusive relationships.” ”It’s a love-hate relationship,” Warden concluded.
Taking things into his own hands, Tasker posted the image below which depicts two people, drawn as stick figures, apparently having oral sex, and captioned, “50,000 battered women and I still eat mine plain.”
Tasker later removed the post but was screen captured by Huffington Post.
Remember, the GOP thinks it has no problem with women voters. Between the coarse humor being posted by an elected official and the message behind the post, does this go too far?
Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims to be honored as a National Champion of Choice by NARAL
Openly gay Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims will receive the National Champion Of Choice Award from NARAL Pro-Choice America.
Via press release:
“As President Obama said in the State of the Union, when women succeed, America succeeds! As a first-term representative, I am humbled and honored to receive this national award for my defense of women’s rights, and I will continue to stand up for those rights and oppose the attacks on them. Women’s rights are human rights,” Sims said.
Sims is strongly pro-choice and attracted national acclaim for his impassioned defense of women’s rights during an April 2013 state House debate on legislation that restricts a woman’s right to an abortion and access to health care by putting government restrictions on private insurance companies and how women can spend their own money.
And from Brian’s Facebook page:
Though I’ve had the opportunity to attend some pretty kick-ass events, being recognized during this NARAL dinner has to be at the top of my list.
First, I want to say how humbled I am to be recognized with women and organizations that I have tremendous respect for: I’ll be joining Dolores Huerta (President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation), Martha Shane & Lana Wilson (Directors of “After Tiller”) and Representatives from Young Women United (Community Organizing by and for Young Women of Color in Albuquerque, NM).
Wow. I’m still in shock about this, and again, I’m humbled and excited to get to meet some of my (s)heroes from all across the country who are fighting for women’s health and a woman’s right to choose.
Only rich white gay men care about marriage equality?
93 years ago today…
93 years ago today, the 19th amendment was ratified, guaranteeing women the right to vote.
Interestingly, many states did not officially ratify the legislation for decades. Mississippi did not ratify the amendment until May of 1984.
Patrick Stewart addresses violence against women in powerful, personal response at Comicpalooza
And in diametric opposition to Mr. Erick Erickson (in my previous post) comes Patrick Stewart who speaks powerfully about how women are treated and how men hold in their hands the ability to stop most domestic violence against women.
Stewart has spoken publicly about the abuse he and his mother suffered at the hands of his father before.
The woman in the video above who asks the question about violence against women had this to say:
This was my question to Sir Patrick Stewart at Comicpalooza 2013. I wanted to thank Patrick Stewart for his speech at Amnesty International it personally help me put a name to the abuse, sexual abuse in my case, I had experienced in the past. He responded very passionately and the last thing I thought I would get at was a heartfelt hug.
When he embraced me he told me “You never have to go through that again, you’re safe now”. I just kept thanking him.
I hope everyone who needs help in abusive or violent situations has the courage to do so. There are people willing and ready to help you.
You can also learn more about Amnesty International’s campaign against domestic violence here.
(via Upworthy)
Madonna – “Secret Project” to be unveiled soon?
Madonna may be prepping to unveil a new song that has been referred to as “Secret Project” within her camp of compadres. The project is rumored to be a civil rights song and video addressing women’s empowerment.
The debut could come this weekend at the Sound of Change Live concert, a global charity event for female empowerment broadcast globally from London, England.
From the Examiner:
Madonna shot the video for her secret project last December and recorded a new song that deals with feminist power earlier this year. The name of the song was tentatively titled “Back of the Bus,” but that could change in the final version. It is said to be one of the most powerful ballads Madonna has haver come up with. It compares the struggle women face around the world with the Civil Rights Movement that started in the 1950s.
Madonna has always been an outspoken advocate for women’s rights as well as gay rights. In the 1980s, when gay men were dropping like flies because of AIDS, Madonna preached tolerance through her albums, videos, and concert performances. She risked her career by defending the gay community, but gave them a much needed voice at a time when even our own president, Ronald Reagan, was homophobic.
Madonna has a special place in her heart for empowering young women. In 1989, she released the song “Express Yourself,” which became an anthem for women’s rights.
The four hour concert, which begins at 1:00 p.m. EDT, will include inspirational and provocative films and stories highlighting women’s issues around the world.
(source)
Documentary: “Wonder Women! The untold story of American Super Heroines”
Completely right up my alley – with interviews with Lindsay Wagner, Lynda Carter and a host of women’s rights icons.
Airs this weekend on PBS.
“Turns what could’ve just been a flat history of a comic book character into a brief study of female empowerment in the last century.” -– Wired.com
US Senate: Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act passes 78-22
The original 1994 act expired in 2011 and failed to be reauthorized last year.
The vote today in the Senate was 78-22; all of the “no” votes came from Republican men.
The bill is expected to face tough opposition in the House.
From the AP:
By a robust bipartisan majority, the Senate voted Tuesday to renew the Violence Against Women Act with new assurances that gays and lesbians, immigrants and Native American women will have equal access to the act’s anti-domestic violence programs.
Last year both the Republican-led House and the Democratic-controlled Senate passed renewal bills, but they were unable to reach a compromise.
This year House Republicans, sensitive to their lackluster showing among women voters in the November election, have vowed to move expeditiously on the issue.