Past Actions
Urge the Senate to Pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act
Support Free Gender Expression On June 3rd, the New York State Assembly passed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA). The Act will put an end to discrimination in "public accommodations," including employment and housing, against individuals who identify as transgender, transsexual and gender variant in New York State. The Act also amends the 2000 hate crimes statute, including gender identity and expression as a protected category. The State Senate still needs to approve this bill before it can become law.
As activists for women's rights, NOW-NYC strives to advance equality for all groups. Under Article Three of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it states "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person." Every community's human rights are important to us at NOW-NYC. Please show your support for the rights and safety of everyone.
Urge your Senator to vote YES on GENDA, and thank your Assemblymember for supporting this bill.
Status: Although the Assembly has passed GENDA, the Senate has not voted on it yet.
Thank your Assembly Member | Contact your Senator | Does your Senator support GENDA? | Learn more about GENDA
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Urge Your Senator to Co-sponsor International VAWA
Help End Violence Against Women Worldwide
According to the World Health Organization, one in three women in the world experiences some violence in her lifetime. It is stated U.S. policy to promote women's civil and human rights and opportunities throughout the world and to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. The International Violence Against Women Act addresses gender-based violence in its many forms -- including rape, domestic violence, sexual violence, genital mutilation, forced and child marriage, "honor" killings, dowry related violence and human trafficking -- both directly and comprehensively.
This legislation streamlines federal efforts by centralizing all U.S. policy and programs related to international women's issues in a new Office for Women's Global Initiatives at the State Department. The bill requires the department to develop a five-year comprehensive strategy to fight violence against women in 10 to 20 countries. It authorizes an annual funding stream of $175 million to support coordinated programs in the areas of legal reform, health care, economic empowerment, educational opportunities and public awareness. The bill also strengthens the protection of women and girls when violence is used as a weapon of intimidation and abuse in situations of armed conflict.
Senators Clinton and Schumer are co-sponsors of the act, please take a moment to let them know they are on the right track. Contact your Senators and urge them to co-sponsor the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA). Take action NOW .
Status: IVAWA (S. 2279) was introduced by Sens. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) last fall, and is pending in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
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Stop LGBT Discrimination
Support the Full Version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act
The Employment Non Discrimination Act, passed in the House in November of this year, would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The original version of the bill, which Bush threatened to veto, also included provisions for transgender employees. Senator Edward Kennedy (D - MA) said that he would move quickly to introduce similar legislation in the Senate.
Contact your Senator and ask them to support an inclusive version of ENDA.
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Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act
Unequal Pay Must End!
In Ledbetter v. Goodyear, the court ruled to ban women from filing employment discrimination law suits outside the 180 days time limit, making it harder for women to receive equal pay for equal work. Women are paid an average of 77 cents for every dollar men are paid. In this decision, the court makes it clear that equal pay is not a priority.
The Supreme Court recently ruled to limit the extent Title VII can protect women and minorities from discriminatory employment practices. In wake of this decision, Senator Kennedy (D-MA), introduced the Fair Pay Restoration Act legislation to overturn the ruling and ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work. (The Fair Pay Restoration Act's counterpart, the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 (H.R. 2831) was passed in Congress August 1!) The legislation clarifies the congressional intent of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The new bill expressly states that the statute of limitations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 runs from the date of each payment of a discriminatory wage. With your help, we won the battle in the House of Representatives to restore our equal pay rights. The bill now needs to pass in the Senate. Our New York senators, Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer are both co-sponsors of the bill, please take a moment to send them a thank you for saying no to payment discrimination!
Say Thank You!
Learn More About the Decision
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We Need the Healthy Families Act
Ensure Paid Sick Leave
Sixty-six million full-time and part-time workers have NO sick leave, even after a full year of employment -- which means their jobs may be at risk when they or members of their family are ill. This represents 54% of all private sector and state/local government employees. You can help us change that situation. The Healthy Families Act (S. 910/HR. 1542) was introduced by Senator Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Representative DeLauro (D-Conn.) in March, and would grant workers paid sick leave in the event of their own personal medical emergency or an illness in the family.
Please ask your representative to co-sponsor this important legislation, which will help ensure that workers are not forced to choose between losing their jobs and caring for themselves or a sick loved one during a time of illness or injury. Take action online now!
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Let Goodyear Know What You Think!
Don't Let Them Profit From Discrimination.
Lily Ledbetter lost not because she hadn't proved her case, but because they said she had missed the 180 day filing limit. So she should have figured out what her peers were making within 180 days of her last raise. Thank you, Mr. Roberts, it is so easy to find out what your peers are earning. In other words, she lost on a technicality. So Goodyear got off scot-free after nearly twenty years of treating Lily Ledbetter like a second-class employee. Now Goodyear has the audacity to go after Lily Ledbetter to pay their court costs. Shame on them!
Take Action. Tell Goodyear executives what you think of their outrageous demand -- and tell them that profiting from discrimination will cost them the business of thinking consumers, who might just buy Firestone or Goodrich tires next time!
Take Action NOW - write to Goodyear
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Pressure U.S. Leaders to Ratify CEDAW
Eliminate the discrimination of women worldwide
Please tell the U.S. government that the time has come to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) treaty and support basic rights for all women. The U.S. Senate has failed to ratify this treaty for more than two decades. As of March 1, 2007, 185 countries have ratified CEDAW, and the U.S. stands out as one of only eight countries that have yet to ratify CEDAW. Take action to improve women's rights in the U.S. and around the world.
Join the "Umbrella Petition"
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Help Pass the NYS SAFE HARBOR Law
Defend sexually exploited children
Under current law, American children runaways who end up in prostitution are labeled as criminals. If caught, they are sent to the juvenile equivalent of prison. The New York State legislature is trying to change this through its new Safe Harbor Law. The law would ensure that exploited children end up in safe houses instead of prisons, where they can obtain medical treatment and counseling. Contact your state representatives to let them know that you support this legislation to protect abused children.
Find Your State Assembly Member
Find Your State Senator
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Protect the Rights of Immigrant Women
Ensure Safety for Victims of Violence
The U.S. Senate is currently debating an Immigration Reform Bill. Amendment 1158 offered by Senator Coleman (R-Minn) and Senator Domenici (R-N Mex) would discourage immigrant women from seeking aid from law enforcement when they are the victims of domestic, sexual violence and human trafficking. The amendment would allow law enforcement officials to inquire about an individual's immigration status and, in turn, report findings to federal authorities.
The amendment would overturn state and local policies that ensure that a victim's immigration status would remain confidential when reporting battery and other illegal activity to law enforcement.
It will be a close vote, and we need your help to ensure the amendment does not pass. The same amendment was introduced in late May and was voted down by ON ONE VOTE.
Call or email your Senator TODAY to tell them to vote AGAINST the Coleman-Domenici Amendment,
SA 1158.
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Support Marriage Equality in New York State
Get the Marriage Bill to the Floor of the Senate for a Vote!
The New York State Assembly made history this June, by passing the Governor Spitzer's marriage equality bill, A. 8590, with a final vote of 85-61. Despite the milestone achievement for gay rights advocates, NYS Senator Joseph Bruno pledged to not bring the bill to the floor this session. As we move into the next legislative session, keep the pressure turned up by letting your State Senator know that you support equal marriage.
Find Your State Senator
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Help Pass the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act
Defend Women's Reproductive Rights!
NOW-NYC applauds Gov. Spitzer's commitment to the women of New York and his recent pledge to introduce legislation to update New York's reproductive rights laws. New York's abortion law was created before Roe v. Wade and is now antiquated. Given the recent Supreme Court decision, changes to the New York law are necessary to protect the health of women. Contact your state representatives to let them know that you support this legislation to protect reproductive rights.
Find Your State Assembly Member
Find Your State Senator
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Hold FOX Accountable
Complain about sexist comments aired
NOW-NYC President Sonia Ossorio appeared on John Gibson's Fox News show, The Big Story, on May 9th to criticize the violent jokes made on Opie and Anthony's XM Satellite Radio Show, recently. As reported online on News Hounds, " Ossorio, NOW New York City President, argued that there are so many derogatory and misogynist images and remarks in the media today, women expect to be offended when they tune in or turn on the TV, and this should not be the case." Gibson's other guest, Patrice O'Neal proceeded not only to tell his own offensive jokes, which Gibson chose to air, but inaccurately criticized NOW for not standing up for all women during the Don Imus scandal (NOW-NYC took an active part).
Gibson has since apologized, but let's not let him off the hook so easily. Keep the stream of complaints flowing and defeat O'Neals belief that women and men have to tolerate sexism and racism in the media.
News Hounds Full Story
Think Progress Story
Call or email to register your complaint!
TO CALL FOX NEWS CHANNEL:
1-888-369-4762
TO E-MAIL GENERAL COMMENTS:
YourComments@foxnews.com
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Support Fairness in Women's Health
Ask the FDA to Put Science Before Politics.
Ask Your Representative to Co-Sponsor the FDA Scientific Fairness for Women Act. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (D-Conn.) is reintroducing legislation that would make women's health issues a priority at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Urge your representative to co-sponsor this important legislation, the FDA Scientific Fairness for Women Act.
Take Action
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Ensure Our Reproductive Freedom
Does Your Representative Support FOCA?
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling to ban a specific type of medical procedure for abortions, federal legislation has been introduced: the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). The law would codify women's reproductive freedom, taking it out of the hands of the politically motivated Supreme Court. The law would also override the recent Carhart decision, which upheld bans that prohibit the most commonly used and safest abortion procedure after 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Why are the following NYC Representatives not on board? Call or write today and let them know that they are not standing up for our rights!
Reprentatives afraid to stand strong for the Right to Choice:
Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Joseph Crowley, Rep. Vito Fosella, Rep. Jose Serrano, Rep. Eliot Engel
CLICK HERE FOR CONTACT INFO
Strong Supporters of Reproductive Freedom:
Please take a minute to thank your NYC Representatives for Co-Sponsoring the bill:
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Introduced the bill in the House
Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12]
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9]
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15]
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18]
Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11]
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14]
CLICK HERE FOR CONTACT INFO
Don' t forget to thank Senators Clinton and Schumer for supporting the bill in the Senate!
LETTER URGING SUPPORT
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Call on Your Pharmacy to Lower the Cost of Emergency Contraception
The price of Emergency Contraception, commonly referred to as "Plan B," at New York City pharmacies has reached an alarming peak, prompting NOW-NYC to call on pharmacy chains, including CVS, Duane Reade and Walgreens, to reduce their inflated costs. NOW-NYC's Reproductive Rights Committee crisscrossed the five boroughs and found prices as high as $50 at some local pharmacies, and a recent study conducted by the New York City Council found the average price of "Plan B" at New York City pharmacies is $41.84, which is higher than the price at which it was sold by prescription only.
Contact your pharmacy's corporate headquarters. Learn More!
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Jets' Games Mob Harasses Women
Gate D is the new halftime show at Jets home games. Here, men gather at the spiral ramps and chant for passing women to flash their breasts. Women who don't comply are taunted and spit at. Several recent articles in the New York Times detail the threatening scene. Although stadium security at Gate D, provided by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, has increased since the first Times article appeared, they have taken no direct action to stop the raucous tradition. And the New Jersey State Police that staff every home game pass the buck to the stadium security on this one.
The last home game of the season is December 30th. Allowing this mob to gather incites violence and mistreatment of women. Let Dennis Robinson, president and chief executive of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, know that letting security guards stand by and watch is unacceptable! Contact the him and the NJSEA at mailto: publicaffairs@njsea.com
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