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Speaker Series: Persisting in the Struggle for Equality
April 1, 2021On March 29, 2021, the California Women’s Law Center was delighted to host a Speaker Series with Dolores Huerta, Lilly Ledbetter, and Supervisor Hilda Solis. This event was moderated by Betsy Butler, CWLC and Kathy Spillar, Feminist Majority Foundation. The conversation honored Women’s History month and our panel of trailblazing women’s rights advocates who discussed
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California Women’s Law Center Releases Statewide Breastfeeding Report Card for California School Districts
March 25, 2021California Women’s Law Center Releases Statewide Breastfeeding Report Card for California School Districts LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24, 2021 – The California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) is releasing an analysis of the status of lactation accommodation policies in 414 California K-12 public school districts in 57 of the state’s 58 counties. The 2021 “ABCsof Breastfeeding Report
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Speaker Series: The 28th Amendment: The Final Push for the ERA
March 15, 2021On March 31, 2021, the California Women’s Law Center was excited to host a Speaker Series with Linda Coberly, Professor Julie Suk, and Kate Kelly. The event was moderated by Kathy Spillar, Feminist Majority Foundation. The conversation honored Women’s History Month and discussed the history of the ERA, the current status of the ERA, and
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CWLC Speaker Series with Congressman Adam Schiff
December 17, 2020On December 16, 2020, The California Women’s Law Center was delighted to host a Speaker Series with Congressman Adam Schiff which was moderated by Brad Sears of UCLA Law School. The conversation underscored a number of pressing issues impacting women, families and the LGBTQ community as well as a discussion about the economic challenges we are experiencing due to COVID-19. To
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CWLC teams up with LA Sparks for Pay Equity Panel
December 14, 2020California Women’s Law Center is expanding a number of partnerships to be more effective advocates for women and girls. We are particularly proud of our strengthened relationship with WNBA Champions the Los Angeles Sparks. We are grateful the LA Sparks are using their platform to strengthen our communities via their #WeAreGirls Workshop, which seeks to
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Free Legal Housing Clinic – Every Other Saturday
April 12, 2021For the past few years, the California Women’s Law Center has hosted free monthly legal clinics to help renters understand their legal housing rights and avoid eviction. As the coronavirus pandemic exacerbates financial challenges for women and families, safe and affordable housing is an increasingly urgent need. CWLC makes available attorneys specialized in housing law
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CWLC Is Here to Help During COVID-19
October 16, 2020
As we confront the known and unknown challenges of COVID-19, we recognize life is dramatically more difficult for many people today than it was just a few weeks ago.
CWLC Talks to NBC7 About the Legacy of Justice Ginsburg
September 25, 2020Like millions of women and men across the country, CWLC was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Justice Ginsberg’s sharp legal mind and staunch support of the rights of women and girls made her a fierce champion for equality. CWLC Senior Staff Attorney, Amy Poyer, spoke to NBC7-San Diego
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California Supreme Court Grants Review in USC Campus Domestic Violence Case Boermeester v. Carry
September 24, 2020FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 24, 2020 MEDIA CONTACTS: Dinah.Stephens@cwlc.org / Jeagle@equalrights.org / tevangelis@gibsondunn.com The California Supreme Court granted review in Boermeester v. Carry, a case involving the expulsion of a University of Southern California student for intimate partner violence. This is the first domestic violence case involving a student in California to make it to the Supreme
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CWLC Statement on the Forced Sterilization of Immigrant Women in ICE Detention Center
September 22, 2020A courageous whistleblower has reported that immigrant and migrant women at the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia have been sterilized without their knowledge or consent. The whistleblower’s allegations assert that this facility, a private prison contracted with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), engaged a medical provider to perform unnecessary hysterectomies on women without their
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OpEd in Ms. Magazine: Black Women Paid Far Less than White Men
August 26, 2020Read CWLC’s piece in Ms. Magazine: Black Women Must Work 8 Extra Months to Be Paid Like White Men This year’s Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, which marks how far into the year a Black woman in the United States must work to earn the same amount as the average white man made last year,
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Training: Advancing Reproductive Justice, Health, & Rights in Uncertain Times (2020)
August 24, 2020The current COVID-19 public health emergency and uprising for racial justice have shed light on inequities in our policies and systems that create and exacerbate health disparities among Black, indigenous women and people of color. This webinar will provide an overview of the intersection between COVID-19, structural racism, and reproductive justice. Presenters will also discuss the impact
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CWLC Files Amicus Brief in Lawsuit Challenging Sec. DeVos Over Title IX Rule
June 30, 2020Today, one week after Title IX’s 48th anniversary, the California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) filed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit brought by eighteen attorneys general against the U.S. Department of Education challenging a rule that would strip away protections for students who experience sexual assault and gender-based harassment on school campuses.
CWLC Initiative: Data Shows Increasing Sex Discrimination in NCAA Sports
June 22, 2020Today, on the eve of Title IX’s 48th anniversary, Champion Women (CW) and the California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) released a report showing that discrimination against women in collegiate sports remains persistent throughout the country in all competitive levels—and is getting worse.
Op-Ed in Ms. Magazine: What the 2020 Census Means for Women
May 9, 2020Read CWLC’s piece in Ms. Magazine, Wondering How to Support Women and Girls? Fill Out Your Census. The federally-mandated census will guide $1.5 trillion dollars in government spending involving more than 300 programs, and it will be used to inform electoral districts across the country. An accurate count is especially important for women, as disproportionately
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Ms. Magazine Op-Ed: Hazing case could mean safer campuses for women
August 15, 2019Read our featured Op-Ed in Ms. Magazine, What This Title IX Case About Hazing Means for Women on Campus. Title IX is most known for the impact it has had on girl’s access to sports– but athletic opportunity is just one way this law enforces gender equality. A recent court case demonstrates that Title IX’s
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Op-Ed in Ms. Magazine: Title IX, Women’s Soccer, and Equal Pay
July 22, 2019Read our piece featured in Ms. Magazine, Title IX Made the USWNT Win– and Their Fight for Equal Pay– Possible. Even with a massive platform, an outpouring of public support, and Nike’s highest-selling soccer jersey, the players on the U.S. Women’s National Team are still battling against pay discrimination. In more ways that one, these
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The Argonaut Op-Ed: Closing the pay gap after USWNT soccer victory
July 18, 2019Read our Op-Ed published in The Argonaut, Title IX Helped America Win the World Cup; Now It’s Time to Close the Pay Gap. Equality wins championships and access to sports can change girls’ lives. When 20 million people tuned in to watch the U.S. Women’s National Team win their fourth World Cup title, most weren’t
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2019 Pursuit of Justice Awards
May 29, 2019On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of the California Women’s Law Center, we thank you for your generous support and partnership in working to secure justice for women and girls throughout California. In celebrating our 30th Anniversary this year, we were proud to recognize Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chris Hollinger, and Cindy Robbins at CWLC’s 2019 Pursuit of Justice Awards for their commitment to build a safer, more healthy environment for women and girls throughout the state and across the country. We thank Lilly Ledbetter, Nancy Solomon, Kathy Spillar and Dee Dee Myers for participating in the event and making our celebration even more memorable.
CWLC Speakers Series: The Fight for Equal Pay with Activist Lilly Ledbetter
May 28, 2019When Lilly Ledbetter learned she was paid less that her male colleagues, she spoke up – and ultimately prompted President Obama to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009. To continue the discussion on the persistent gender wage gap, we joined Lilly and other expert panelists: Jocelyn Samuels, Executive Director, The Williams Institute;
Prof. Brad Sears, Associate Dean of Public Interest, UCLA School of Law; Kathy Spillar, Executive Director, Feminist Majority Foundation; Betsy Butler, Executive Director, California Women’s Law Center (Moderator)
Spring 2019 Newsletter
May 23, 2019In this issue… Celebrating CWLC’s 30th Anniversary CWLC 2019 Pursuit of Justice Awards honors Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chris Hollinger, and Cindy Robbins on May 29th! Recognizing Women’s History Month with Women Jurists Advancing Pay Equity with Lilly Ledbetter An Update: CWLC’s Breastfeeding Accomplishments Keeping Domestic Violence Victims Safe: CWLC Training Message from the Executive Director Three
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A Discussion with Women Jurists
March 7, 2019A Discussion with Women Jurists Special thanks to our Co-Hosts Theane Evangelis, Pamela S. Palmer, The Law Offices of Victor L. George, Jones Day, and Chris Hollinger/Sleeping Lion, Inc.
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CWLC Releases Updated “ABC’s of Breastfeeding” Report Card
February 11, 2019Today, the California Women’s Law Center announces the release of our updated “ABC’s of Breastfeeding” report card for Los Angeles County school districts. This report card updates our 2016 publication of the ABC’s of Breastfeeding in Los Angeles County which was done in partnership with BreastfeedLA and the ACLU of Southern California. In 2015, California
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Support Students and Take Action Against Proposed Title IX Changes!
January 12, 2019The rights and safety of women in the United States continue to be challenged. Over the last two years, the current administration has marginalized American women and girls on several fronts, and now Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has proposed new regulations that will strip away vital protections for survivors of sexual assault and harassment
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Fall 2018 Newsletter
December 6, 2018 In this issue… Fighting for Equity for Girls in Sports CWLC Releases Comprehensive Sexual Assault Guide CWLC Outreach and Trainings 2018 Legislative Summary Spotlight: CWLC Interns Title IX Victory: Fighting for Equity for Girls in Sports For the past year, CWLC has represented female athletes at Sierra Vista High School in Baldwin
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CWLC’s Co-Sponsored STAND Act Signed by Governor Brown
October 1, 2018Stand Together Against Non-Disclosure (STAND) Act Signed into Law in California The California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) is pleased to report that the Stand Together Against Non-Disclosure (STAND) Act has been signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. Authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) and co-sponsored by CWLC and the Consumer Attorneys of California,
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“A Guide to Federal and California State Sexual Discrimination, Harassment, and Assault Laws”
September 11, 2018The California Women’s Law Center is proud to announce the release of our comprehensive legal guide, “A Guide to Federal and California State Sexual Discrimination, Harassment, and Assault Laws.” This Guide identifies and outlines various claims that can be brought for sexual discrimination, harassment and assault under federal and state law. Designated for use by
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CWLC reaches agreement in Title IX athletics case at Sierra Vista High School
August 23, 2018The 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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The Supreme Court: What’s At Stake
August 21, 2018CWLC and the Feminist Majority Foundation hosted an informative and important conversation about the Supreme Court and the direction of the federal judiciary on August 21, 2018 with panelists Michele Goodwin, Robert Bradley Sears, Amanda Hollis-Brusky, and moderator Betsy Butler.
2018 Pursuit of Justice Awards
May 17, 2018CWLC was proud to recognize four outstanding leaders and champions who are pursuing justice for women, girls and families throughout the state. The 2018 honorees were Rita Hall, It’s On Us, Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, and Lois Thompson.
CWLC Speakers Series: Congressman Adam Schiff
April 21, 2018CWLC was honored to host Congressman Adam Schiff, the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and hear his perspective on a number of pressing matters affecting our country. CWLC thanks our co-hosts the Law Offices of Victor George, Genie Harrison Law Firm and Chris Hollinger/Sleeping Lion, Inc., and our sponsors Theane Evangelis, Esra Hudson, Adam and Diana Leiden, Pamela Palmer and Rasha Gerges Shields, for making the event possible.
“HIV Criminalization and Sex Work in California”
October 19, 2017
The California Women’s Law Center announces the release of the “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 made in California from 2005-2013 for prostitution and other offenses related to sex work.
CWLC Speakers Series: Women in Sports
September 20, 2017On Wednesday, October 25, 2017, the California Women’s Law Center hosted a Speaker Series with Sue Enquist, Lauren Fendrick, Gwendolyn Oxenham and Violet Palmer titled “Women in Sports: Challenges & Opportunities.”
Lactation 101: Lactation Accommodations in Los Angeles County Higher Education (2017)
June 23, 2017Access 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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2017 Pursuit of Justice Awards
May 16, 2017The California Women’s Law Center was honored to recognize amazing leaders and champions who are pursuing justice for women and girls: The Actors’ Gang Prison Project, California State Senator Connie M. Leyva, and the Los Angeles Sparks. Sponsorship opportunities available.
Poverty Awareness Month and the “Aging, Women and Poverty In California” White Paper
January 3, 2017CWLC has prioritized the specific and devastating effects of poverty on California’s aging population, and particularly its impact on our state’s aging women. In June 2016, CWLC joined the California Commission on Aging and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls to present a ground-breaking forum titled Aging, Women and Poverty In California. The forum brought together policy leaders and experts from around the state to discuss the looming crisis facing California’s older women. Speakers at the forum tackled issues including retirement, elder justice, housing, food insecurity, health care access, and many other pressing matters older Americans face.
CWLC Advocacy and Legislative Updates from 2016
November 8, 2016On September 28, 2016, Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 813, the Justice for Victims Act. SB 813 eliminates the statute of limitations for rape and other felony sex crimes in California.
“Aging, Women and Poverty in California” Forum
June 8, 2016On June 3rd, the California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) co-hosted a forum entitled Aging, Women and Poverty In California at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. CWLC was honored to partner with the California Commission on Aging (CCoA) and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG) to discuss the priorities and perspectives that community and policy leaders should be planning for as our population ages. With 34,000 Californians turning 65 each month, the Golden State should prepare for a dramatic change in the needs of its citizens.
Title IX Victory: Ninth Circuit Finds Sweetwater Union High School District in Violation
September 25, 2014CWLC along with our partners at the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center (LAS-ELC) and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, are excited to share another victory in our Title IX class action suit in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday. This September, the Ninth Circuit awarded a class of female athletes, represented by CWLC
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CWLC Participates in Rally to Stop the Sultan of Brunei
May 20, 2014On May 5th, California Women’s Law Center Interim Executive Director spoke at a rally to stop the Sultan of Brunei’s barbaric policies against women and the LGBT community. Betsy joined Jay Leno and members of the Feminist Majority along with icons Dolores Huerta, Ellie Smeal, Lorri Jean and many others in front of the Beverly Hills
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