Gender Discrimination
2018 Amicus Briefs Summary
In 2018, CWLC participated in thirty-three amicus briefs addressing a variety of legal issues affecting justice and equality for women and girls. This summer CWLC filed a brief with the Supreme Court of the United States in support of California’s FACT Act, a law pertaining to the limited and harmful practices that “crisis pregnancy centers”
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2017 Amicus Briefs Summary
In 2017, CWLC participated in thirty amicus briefs addressing a variety of legal issues affecting justice and equality for women and girls. These briefs were filed in the California Court of Appeal, the California Supreme Court, multiple federal District and Circuit courts, and even the United States Supreme Court. The issues addressed by the briefs included Title IX campus sexual assault and cyber harassment, women’s reproductive health, domestic violence, LGBTQ employment discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, and transgender veterans.
Webinar Training – “Title IX: Campus Sexual Assault and Harassment” (2018)
The California Women’s Law Center offered this training opportunity about campus sexual assault and harassment as it applies to Title IX, and in particular colleges in California. Presenter: Amy Poyer, CWLC Senior Staff Attorney *To use this training for self-study MCLE credit, please complete the evaluation form on our website and submit it to cwlc@cwlc.org in order
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“HIV Criminalization and Sex Work in California” (2018)
The California Women’s Law Center announces the release of “HIV Criminalization and Sex Work in California” which analyzed the application of many of our state’s criminal laws related to HIV. In collaboration with The Williams Institute and the California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Center, CWLC was pleased to be able to participate in the creation of this report analyzing arrests
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Webinar Training – “A Level Playing Field” (2017)
The California Women’s Law Center and Legal Aid At Work offered this training opportunity about Title IX as it applies to athletics in schools, and in particular K-12 schools in California. Presenters: Amy Poyer, California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) Kim Turner, Legal Aid at Work *1 hour general CLE credit available. Please contact CWLC at cwlc@cwlc.org for
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Webinar Training- “The Rights of Pregnant and Parenting Students” (2017)
The California Women’s Law Center and BreastfeedLA offered this training opportunity about Title IX and California law as it applies to pregnant and parenting students. Presenters: Amy Poyer, California Women’s Law Center Arissa Palmer, BreastfeedLA *1 hour general CLE credit available. Please contact CWLC at cwlc@cwlc.org for more information.
Know Your IX’s State Policy Playbook (2017)
Know Your IX’s State Policy Playbook outlines key reforms that students, advocates, and state policymakers can pursue to support survivors on campus, keep students safe, and end gender-based violence in school. For more information, visit the Know Your IX website here.
Lactation 101: Lactation Accommodations in Los Angeles County Higher Education (2017)
Access to lactation accommodations is an issue at all levels of educational instruction. Thus, Lactation 101 adds to our previous work at the K-12 level, broadening our coverage to 107 colleges, universities and institutes of higher learning in Los Angeles County. Of the 107 institutions evaluated, only 4 schools met four or more of the
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Training: “The Rights of Pregnant and Parenting Students Under Title IX and California Law” (2016)
This informational webinar reviewed the laws protecting pregnant and parenting students in California to enable practitioners to identify and remedy these harmful forms of discrimination, shared the results of the ABC’s of Breastfeeding Report Card grading lactation accommodations in K-12 schools in Los Angeles County, and discussed next steps in expanding the impact of the report card.
2016 Amicus Briefs Summary
In 2016, CWLC participated in eighteen amicus briefs addressing a variety of legal issues affecting justice and equality for women and girls. These briefs were filed in the California Court of Appeal, the California Supreme Court, multiple federal District and Circuit courts, and even the United States Supreme Court. The issues addressed by the briefs included women’s reproductive health, domestic violence, LGBTQ employment discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, and discriminatory enforcement of prostitution offenses.
Gender Discrimination in Education – Pregnancy and Parenting (2016)
A brief overview on gender discrimination in education, focused specifically on the application of Title IX to pregnant and parenting students, including helpful frequently asked questions.
Gender Discrimination in Education – Athletics (2016)
This guide provides an overview on gender discrimination in education, and is focused specifically on athletics. It covers the facts about Title IX as it pertains to athletics and includes resources about how Title IX is applied to athletics, enforcement and compliance, including several cases and resources.
Of the States, By the States, For the States: Strategies and Tools for Gender Equality (2015)
Created through The Alliance, this resource document presents a compilation of the Alliance’s state advocacy strategies, models, and resources in two priority areas: advancing abortion policy and combatting religious refusals. This first edition chronicles tangible abortion and refusals advocacy efforts on the ground in our states with links to concrete advocacy tools, such as bills
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The Road Ahead: Gender Equality After Hobby Lobby (2015)
Created through The Alliance, this report focuses on the Supreme Court’s decision on Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. It is intended to serve as a resource for state and national colleagues who recognize the struggle for women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, full gender equality, and social justice itself can be won only through creative and concerted advocacy.
Female Veteran’s Fair Housing Case Against Housing Facility (2016)
The California Women’s Law Center, along with co-counsel, represented a female veteran who brought several claims against the owners and managers of a facility developed to provide housing for disabled homeless veterans. Based on the sexual assault and harassment that she alleged occurred at the facility, the plaintiff brought two Fair Housing Act claims for a hostile living environment as
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Training – Title IX – Gender Equality in School Athletics (2016)
The California Women’s Law Center and the Legal Aid Society – Employment Law Center’s Fair Play for Girls in Sports Project offered this training opportunity about Title IX as it applies to athletics in schools, and in particular K-12 schools in California.
Aging, Women, and Poverty in California: We Must Do More (2016)
On June 3, 2016, the California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) partnered with the California Commission on Aging and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls to co-host the “Aging, Women, and Poverty in California” forum. This policy paper summarizes the key issues facing poor older women in California as well as serves
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ABCs of Breastfeeding Report Card (2015 and 2016)
In 2015, the ACLU of Southern California, BreastfeedLA (The Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles) and CWLC released a report card on the state of lactation accommodations for students and employees in Los Angeles County schools. The 2015 report found the average grade across all schools was a “D.” A year later, this same
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Title IX Victory in the Ninth Circuit on Sweetwater (2014)
CWLC, with our partners at the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, continue to monitor the Title IX compliance progress at Castle Park High School in the Sweetwater School District located in Chula Vista, California. In 2014, the Ninth Circuit in Ollier v. Sweetwater Union High School District, 768 F.3d
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Just Play Now
CWLC has a dedicated website in order to provide information and tools to students, parents and coaches to ensure that their high school is providing fair athletic opportunities to girls. The site includes case studies, videos, and a toolkit with templates.
California Women Veterans Legal Collaborative (2016)
The California Women Veterans Legal Collaborative is an active partnership between the California Women’s Law Center and the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center to provide coordinated, statewide legal assistance to female veterans who were victims of sexual assault or violence while serving in the military (termed Military Sexual Trauma or MST). Women veterans with a
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Title IX Victory in the Ninth Circuit on Sweetwater (2014)
CWLC, with our partners at the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, continue to monitor the Title IX compliance progress at Castle Park High School in the Sweetwater School District located in Chula Vista, California. In 2014, the Ninth Circuit in Ollier v. Sweetwater Union High School District, 768 F.3d
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CWLC Women Veterans Housing Policy Brief (2015)
This CWLC policy brief examines the lack of safe and supportive housing for women veterans, because current supportive housing facilities specifically targeted for homeless veterans fails to accommodate the needs of women veterans and their families, particularly those with MST- (Military Sexual Trauma) related disabilities.
Opening Doors & Opportunities for Girls (2014)
A Title IX Compliance Checklist: Top 14 Questions to Ask and Act On The California Title IX Coalition invites you to join us in opening doors and opportunities for girls and young women in your community. You can do this by using the enclosed Title IX Check List to assess your local high school’s compliance
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Pregnant Students and Confidential Medical Services Policy Brief (2013)
This CWLC policy brief outlines the rights of pregnant teens in California regarding their ability to consent to all medical care related to their pregnancy. This right extends to other limited, specified medical conditions – usually those that involve sexual activity and other sensitive and personal matters.
Educational Rights of Pregnant & Parenting Teens: Title IX & CA State Law Requirements (2012)
This CWLC policy brief explores Title IX, specifically the explicit protections for pregnant and parenting students. Coupled with state law protections that both mirror and expand on Title IX, California provides pregnant teens with important legal tools to combat discrimination and harassment in schools
Time Out – Does your School Play Fair? (2006)
CWLC developed this practical guide to inform women and young girls of their rights under Title IX, and to help them fairly assess whether their school or university is in compliance.
Gender Discrimination in Education – Sexual Assault and Harassment (2016)
This is a brief overview on gender discrimination in education, focused specifically on sexual assault and harassment. This short guide covers the facts and includes resources on what Title IX is, and how it applies to the Clery Act and the Campus SaVE Act.
Student and Advocate Web Resources
The California Women’s Law Center closely monitors the fight to end sexual assault on college campuses and is committed to providing students and their advocates the resources they need to prevent campus sexual assaults and secure justice for survivors.
Eliminating Health Barriers for Women Veterans (2014)
The Eliminating Health Barriers Project was a collaborative effort between CWLC and numerous veteran services organizations across California. The focus of the project was to work directly with women veterans and other key informants to develop workable, gender-appropriate, and responsive solutions to address current obstacles to accessing health care services. The project involved low-income women
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Girls Participation in Sports: An Important Tool in Teen Pregnancy Prevention (2002)
One of the proven benefits of sports activity that has too often been overlooked is the relationship between participation in sports and teen pregnancy prevention. This CWLC policy brief highlights the relationship between these two issues and the barriers that have prevented sports from being utilized as an important tool in teen pregnancy prevention.
The Civil Rights of Pregnant and Parenting Teens in California Schools (2002)
This CWLC policy brief was created to educate the public about the civil rights of pregnant and parenting teens and to encourage schools to adopt policies that protect teens’ rights.
S.T.O.P. Teen Dating Violence (2015)
S.T.O.P Teen Dating Violence resources are related to the October 2015 presentation in which teen dating violence is discussed, why it is a problem, the responsibility schools play in addressing teen dating violence under Title IX, and its relation to California state law.
Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence in Schools: What Title IX Requires (2011)
This document is intended to provide a summary of the Office for Civil Rights “Dear Colleague” letter issued on April 4, 2011, which provided special Title IX guidance on sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools.
CWLC reaches agreement in Title IX athletics case at Sierra Vista High School
The California Women’s Law Center, with co-counsel Legal Aid at Work and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, reached agreement in a Title IX athletics dispute involving female athletes at Sierra Vista High School in the Baldwin Park Unified School District. Girls’ volleyball players were forced to practice in an unsafe space in the gym while
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Female Athletes Reach Agreement with Baldwin Park Unified School District in Title IX Case
Press Release: August 22, 2018 CONTACT: Elizabeth Kristen, Director, Gender Equity & LGBT Rights Program, Legal Aid at Work, 510-501-4692, ekristen@legalaidatwork.org Jayma M. Meyer, Counsel, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 212-455-3935, jmeyer@stblaw.com Amy C. Poyer, Senior Staff Attorney, California Women’s Law Center, 323-951-9276, amy.poyer@cwlc.org Female Athletes Reach Agreement with Baldwin Park Unified
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55th Anniversary of the Equal Pay Act of 1963
Today is the 55th anniversary of the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which amended the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit pay discrimination on the basis of sex. Fifty-five years later, women still do not receive equal pay. In 2017, women on
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Assembly Bill 2289 (Weber and Gonzalez Fletcher) – Young Parents’ Right to Education Act
CWLC supports AB 2289, which would promote gender equity in education by ensuring that pregnant and parenting students in California receive consistent and adequate parental leave. Read AB 2289 Letter of Support. AB 2289 was approved by the Governor on September 30, 2018.
Winter 2018 Newsletter
In this issue… CWLC 2018 Pursuit of Justice Awards honors Rita Hall, It’s On Us, LA County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and Lois Thompson on May 17 Speaker Series with Congressman Adam Schiff March is Women’s Herstory Month “Equal Pay” in 2018 CWLC Welcomes Kim Nakamaru 2018 Pursuit of
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International Women’s Day 2018
The California Women’s Law Center is proud to recognize International Women’s Day and our commitment to press for progress and gender equity. Created by suffragettes and first celebrated in 1911, International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration to honor the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. IWD is also a time to
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