When Florence, Kentucky police officer Lyndi Trischler was five months pregnant with her second child and no longer able to wear the body armor or utility belt required for her patrol work, because they didn’t fit, made it difficult to breathe and caused her pain, she let her supervisors know. [1] She also experienced the onset of heart palpitations and, according to the Washington Post, at her doctor’s urging, she asked if she could be assigned to light duty for the duration of her pregnancy. [2] Her supervisor refused the request. [3] Why? Because of a new citywide policy that denies any modified duty to any city employee who requests it, unless they have an on the on-the-job injury. [4] This policy goes against the Americans with Disability Act, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) pregnancy discrimination enforcement guidance, and in this case, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Urge Florence, Kentucky Mayor Diane E. Whalen to change the city’s discriminatory policy to be in full compliance with the law NOW and to let Lyndi get back to work! For more information from our partners at A Better Balance who are representing Officer Trischler in her legal efforts, click here: http://www.abetterbalance.org/web/component/content/article/50-fairnessworkplace/315-lyndi-trischler [1] The Washington Post: Pregnant women fight to keep jobs via "reasonable accommodations." [2] Ibid. [3] USA Today, Police work, pregnancy collide in Ky. Town; CBS News: Field work or no pay for pregnant Kentucky police officer Lyndi Trischler. [4] A Better Balance: We're fighting back for Officer Trischler.

While I could not personally have an abortion, it is not my place or anyone else's place to tell women how to conduct their lives. It makes me angry that this issue comes up with every election.

Nicole Guerrero was pregnant and alone in a Texas county jail cell when she suddenly started having contractions. According to CNN, after screaming for help over and over again and being ignored for hours, someone finally came to her assistance, but it was too late. Her baby was born on a jail cell floor, a deep shade of purple, with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. Nicole’s baby did not survive. [1] [2] Nicole Guerrero is just one of the estimated 500 pregnant women in Texas county jails each month. [3] Reports from advocates in Texas tell us this isn’t the first time a pregnant woman in a county jail was denied access to medical care. The following standards and best practices should be established as minimum standards by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards: 1. Implement the current standard requiring jails to have a good medical plan that insures timely and appropriate prenatal care, specialized obstetrical services when indicated, and postpartum care. 2. When a pregnant woman says that she is experiencing labor symptoms, the jail shall provide an immediate evaluation by an obstetric specialist. If there is no obstetric specialist on site, an ambulance shall be called immediately and the woman shall be transferred to an appropriate medical care facility. In the event that a woman gives birth in the correctional facility, immediately call an ambulance to transfer both the mother and baby to a hospital. 3. Prohibit the placement of pregnant women in any form of solitary confinement, including a medical segregation cell. No mother should have to endure Nicole Guerrero’s tragic loss. If you are as horrified by this story as we are, please sign this petition today. [1] Shelby Lin Erdman and Carma Hassan. “Texas woman claims she gave birth alone in jail, baby died.” CNN, May 24, 2014. http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/23/us/texas-jail-baby-death/ [2] Diana Claitor and Burke Butler. “Pregnant women in Texas county jails deserve better than this.” Dallas News, June 26, 2014. http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/latest-columns/20140626-pregnant-women-in-texas-county-jails-deserve-better-than-this.ece [3] Texas Jail Project. “Pregnant in a Texas County Jail?” January 1, 2013. http://www.texasjailproject.org/2013/01/pregnant-in-a-texas-jail/

We're sure you’ve heard the news: Sen. John Walsh has decided to take his name out of the running for re-election. Because Walsh already won the primary, the Montana Democratic Party now must hold a convention to pick a new candidate. It’s been rumored that some of the candidates in the mix aren’t pro-choice. Montana has a long history of electing pro-choice Democrats to statewide office who trust Montana women and support reproductive freedom. There's so much at stake in this election. If we lose this pro-choice seat in the Senate, it’s going to be that much harder to block attacks on our rights and nearly impossible to get qualified nominees onto our nation’s courts. We can influence this process by showing an overwhelming support for candidates who support reproductive freedom, but we have to move quickly. Join us in calling on the Montana Democratic Party to respect Montana voters by backing a Senate candidate who’ll be an advocate for a woman's right to access contraception and abortion.

You read that right. Gov. Scott Walker is trying to use the Hobby Lobby ruling to take birth control away from women. He thinks women shouldn't be guaranteed contraceptive coverage. We can’t stand by and let Gov. Walker use the Supreme Court decision to serve his own personal, anti-choice agenda. It’s up to us to hold the governor accountable for putting bosses’ beliefs ahead of health care that only women need. Sign our petition to Gov. Walker now. Tell him to keep his hands off our birth control.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists publicly recommended this change in December of 2012. The Statement can be viewed here http://www.acog.org/Resources_And_Publications/Committee_Opinions/Committee_on_Gynecologic_Practice/Over-the-Counter_Access_to_Oral_Contraceptives It is time to act.

This will control welfare spending, men having the option of moving from place to place, grandparents supporting grown fathers and it will force men to stay gainfully employed and remain future tax payers .

We came very close to fixing the Supreme Court’s sexist Hobby Lobby decision in the U.S. Senate. But Mitch McConnell and his allies in the Senate blocked the “Not My Boss’ Business” Act from even getting a floor vote. We know where the Senate stands – now we need to put every member of the U.S. House of Representatives on record. And we need you, one of the 7 in 10 pro-choice majority, to help. Contact your representative now and tell them to support the "Not My Boss' Business Act."

UPDATE: The vote was yesterday, Wednesday, July 16, 2014. The bill failed to pass, but we are hearing that the fight is not over yet , and that we should continue urging and pushing our lawmakers for a Hobby Lobby fix. *************************************************************************** Time is of the essence! A fix to the harmful Hobby Lobby decision, the Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act, could be voted on as early as this week. So sign on NOW to urge your lawmakers to vote YES on the Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act! Bosses should NOT be able to make birth control decisions for us!

By vetoing the "72-hour waiting period" bill, Gov. Jay Nixon supported the rights and health of Missouri women over the interference of anti-choice lawmakers.

The ink is barely dry on the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision, but already conservative activists are trying to use "religious freedom" as a justification for firing people simply because they're gay. The White House is currently preparing an executive order that would prohibit federal contractors from discriminating against their employees. But yesterday, Rick Warren and other religious leaders sent a letter formally requesting that President Obama allow religious organizations that receive federal tax dollars to discriminate against LGBT employees. Most Americans, including most Christians, believe it's morally wrong to fire someone just because they're gay -- but the media is reporting on this letter as if its 14 signers speak for all of Christianity. So we're launching an emergency petition to show the White House just how many people are outraged that religion is being exploited to justify anti-gay discrimination.

Nearly 90 percent of abortion providers have had patients fear for their safety, and 80 percent have had to call the police because of safety concerns.