Women’s Rights
Advocate for sexual assault survivors: Why is Louisiana cheering on Jameis Winston?
The woman who runs Louisiana’s largest service organization for sexual misconduct survivors is questioning why Louisiana residents feel comfortable cheering on New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston, who has been publicly accused of sexual assault by two women. “We need to examine the cultural norms which allow someone like Jameis Winston to work for an […]
LSU basketball court name change sparks debate over gender equality
The LSU Board of Supervisors voted to name the basketball court in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center after former LSU men’s basketball coach Dale Brown, but only after an extended and heated debate over whether a woman coach should be given the honor instead. Mary Werner, a LSU Board member, pushed back on naming the […]
Commentary: Five facts anti-abortion activists get wrong
Want to reduce abortions? Great — but doing so doesn’t require unconstitutional abortion bans. Conversations on female reproductive biology have long been muted. The duct tape is often applied by religious and conservative sects that historically view even the most basic utterances of sexual education as lewd. The result? A fundamental lack of understanding of […]
Southeastern Louisiana University cuts funds to student newspaper to pay for Title IX staff
Southeastern Louisiana University is taking $150,000 from the school’s student newspaper and using it to pay for two additional staff members in the university’s Title IX office. The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors approved the shift in funding Thursday without discussion. Half of the university’s $12 student publication fee will now go toward […]
Louisiana has three new abortion laws: Here’s what they do
Louisiana has three new laws aimed at restricting and deterring abortion. Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who opposes abortion, announced last week he signed the measures. Here’s a rundown of what they do: Medical professionals will be required to suggest ‘abortion reversal’ may be possible Act 483 — which will take effect Aug. 1 […]
In this legislative session, Louisiana Republicans flipped the meaning of discrimination | Jarvis DeBerry
During a committee meeting where he voted against legislation that sought to protect Louisiana’s LGBTQ renters from housing discrimination, Rep. Danny McCormick (R-Oil City) spoke firsthand about the discrimination he himself has been facing: “Personally I don’t wear a mask, and I get discriminated against,” he said. In defense of what might be property managers’ […]
Rep. Malinda White pulls domestic abuse bill after she reportedly threatens colleague
One of the Louisiana Legislature’s most outspoken advocates for abused women withdrew her bill expanding the definition of domestic abuse a day after she reportedly threatened violence against a fellow lawmaker and had to be pulled away from an argument that occurred on the floor of the Louisiana House. “For the sake of the body, […]
‘Pink tax’ exemption heads to Gov. Edwards for approval
The Louisiana Legislature passed the so-called “pink tax” exemption bill on Thursday, proposing a state sales tax exemption on feminine hygiene products and diapers. The bill heads to Gov. John Bel Edwards for consideration. The final passage of House Bill 7, authored by Rep. Aimee Freeman (D-New Orleans), marks a new step for pink tax […]
Louisiana Legislature declines to create Office of Women’s Health
The Louisiana Department of Health won’t get an Office of Women’s Health anytime soon. House Bill 193, introduced by Rep. Denise Marcelle (D-Baton Rouge), which would have created within the health department an office “responsible for leading, consolidating, and coordinating efforts across the state that are intended to improve women’s health outcomes” effectively died in […]
Louisiana may require medical staff to suggest ‘abortion reversal’ is possible
Louisiana lawmakers are close to approving a new law that would require medical professionals to tell a woman using medication to terminate a pregnancy that her pregnancy might still be viable if she only takes one of the two abortion pills she’s prescribed. There is no verified scientific evidence to support such an assertion. The […]
Louisiana Senate scuttles post-pregnancy Medicaid extension
The Louisiana Senate Finance Committee killed legislation Thursday that would have allowed people who were pregnant to stay on Medicaid for a year postpartum. The federal government would have had to sign off on the approval before it went into effect. Currently, people who use Medicaid during their pregnancy lose their health care coverage two […]
Bills responding to sexual misconduct scandal at LSU move closer to governor’s desk
In response to reports of inaction and negligence from LSU officials in the face of TItle IX violations, the both chambers of the Louisiana Legislature passed several bills Tuesday that, among other things, clarifies to whom higher education employees should report Title IX violations and requires the termination of higher education employees who don’t report […]