Tackling Inequality in Public Schools

CWLC’s Senior Staff Attorney Amy Poyer was a panelist on the Tackling Inequality in Public Schools, a program that was part of the month-long series of public education classes and continuing legal education programs held at LA Law Library in celebration of African American History Month 2018. The panelists guided a discussion, responded to questions and concerns
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National Girls & Women in Sports Day

  The California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) is proud to recognize National Girls and Women in Sports Day by celebrating the importance of fair play and honor the extraordinary achievements of female athletes. Girls who play sports are more likely to graduate, go to college, earn higher wages, have better physical and mental health throughout
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“Political Animals” Talkback

CWLC’s Executive Director Betsy Butler participated in a talkback after the screening of the film Political Animals. This film was part of University of California, Irvine School of Law’s Reproductive Justice and LGBTQA Film Festival that began on February 1, 2018 and ran through March 29, 2018!

2017 Year End Letter

Happy Holidays to you and yours from the California Women’s Law Center staff and Board of Directors.
In peace and with respect for all, we wish you a happy and healthy 2018!

Fall 2017 Newsletter

  In this issue…   CWLC Speaker Series: Champions In Sports   CWLC’s Trainings and Community Outreach   Weighing In: CWLC’s Amicus Briefs   California Report on Women, HIV and Sex Work   Welcome CWLC’s New Board Member, Stacey Armato     CWLC Speaker Series: Female Athletes Leading The Way     On October 25,
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Amicus Brief Filed in U.S. Supreme Court on Economic Security of Older Women

CWLC was one of six organizations who filed a joint amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in the case of Lazar v. Kroncke.

Exciting Speaker Series on Women in Sports

The California Women’s Law Center hosted a Speaker Series with former UCLA softball coach and Title IX champion Sue Enquist, USA Olympic beach volleyball player Lauren Fendrick, film director and author Gwendolyn Oxenham and the NBA’s first female referee Violet Palmer on October 25, 2017 at the Feminist Majority Foundation in Beverly Hills. Their discussion titled
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“HIV Criminalization and Sex Work in California”

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 hosted an exciting Speaker Series on Women in Sports on October 25th, 2017

On 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.”

Protections for Campus Sexual Assault Victims May Roll Back

Yesterday, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos signaled her intention to roll back protections for campus sexual assault victims put in place by the Obama Administration in 2011. The Department of Education’s actions are likely to discourage survivors from reporting sexual assaults and could prevent rapists from being held accountable.

Summer 2017 Newsletter

In this issue… 2017 Annual Pursuit of Justice Awards, Teen Dating Violence Brochure, CWLC’s Beach Cities Legal Housing Clinics, CWLC Releases: Lactation 101 Report, Join Us: LA Sparks #WeAreWomen game on August 27th, and more!

Webinar: “Teen Dating Violence: Detect, Address and Prevent”

CWLC hosted a Teen Dating Violence training on Thurs. July 27, 2017

“Lactation 101” in Local News

CWLC’s Senior Staff Attorney Amy Poyer was interviewed by local NPR station KPCC to discuss the release of CWLC and BreastfeedLA’s “Lactation 101: Lactation Accommodations in Los Angeles County Higher Education” and the importance of accessible lactation accommodation policies in schools. Listen to the audio and read the article 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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2017 Pursuit of Justice Awards

The 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.

West Hollywood Women’s Leadership Conference

The Women’s Leadership Conference featured a day of dynamic speakers, film screening and reception, compelling panel discussions, expert-led trainings, interactive workshops, keynote luncheon, exhibitor hub area, and so much more! It was an exciting daylong event geared toward women who live, work and play in West Hollywood.

Webinar: “A Level Playing Field: Title IX and Gender Equity in K-12 School Athletics”

Amy Poyer of CWLC and Kim Turner from Legal Aid at Work, formerly known as the Legal Aid Society – Employment Law Center, hosted a Title IX Athletics training webinar titled “A Level Playing Field: Title IX and Gender Equity in K-12 School Athletics” on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm PST.

Training: “The Rights of Pregnant and Parenting Students Under Title IX and California Law”

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.

Assembly Bill 1209 (Gonzalez Fletcher) – Gender Pay Gap Transparency Act

The California Women’s Law Center supports AB 1209, The Gender Pay Gap Transparency Act, introduced by Senator Gonzalez-Fletcher, which seeks to address the gender wage gap in California. Read AB 1209 Support Letter AB 1209 was vetoed by the Governor on October 15, 2017.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Please join CWLC and our allies in raising our collective voices to support survivors and increase awareness about the fact that sexual violence is never acceptable. #SAAM2017 #SAAM

National Equal Pay Day 2017

Today is National Equal Pay Day, recognized this year on April 4th which represents how far into the new year women on average must work to earn what men did the previous year. Overcoming the wage gap is difficult for all women but particularly for the vast majority of women of color.

Senate Bill 320 (Leyva) – College Student Right to Access Act

The California Women’s Law Center supports SB 320, the College Student Right to Access Act, introduced by Senator Leyva, which will secure students’ access to reproductive health services at public universities and colleges by providing medication abortion at student health centers that receive state funding. Read SB 320 Letter of Support SB 320 was introduced
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Senate Bill 570 (Newman) – G.I. Bill CalWORKs

CWLC supports SB 570, introduced by Senator Newman, which would amend the rules governing income and eligibility for the CalWORKs program to exempt all education related benefits paid to military, veteran and surviving family members by the United States Veteran Administration (VA) from income tests for the program. Read SB 570 Support Letter SB 570 was
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Winter 2017 Update

In this issue… Distinguished Speaker Series with Erwin Chemerinsky and Michele Goodwin, CWLC to honor The Actors’ Gang Prison Project, State Senator Connie M. Leyva and the Los Angeles Sparks: 2017 Pursuit of Justice Awards – May 16, 2017, Policy Brief Released: “Aging, Women and Poverty In California,” Join Us: Upcoming Title IX Webinars, CWLC Welcomes New Board Members, and much more!

Rally & Walk for Equality

The Feminist Majority Foundation, CWLC and various sponsors and supporters attended the Rally & Walk for EQUALITY on March 26, 2017.

International Women’s Day – March 8, 2017

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a collective day of global celebration but also a call for gender parity. IWD honors the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world. But the unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to their male counterparts, women are still not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women’s education, health and physical safety are threatened every day.

Asian American Women Equal Pay Day

Today is Asian American Women’s Equal Pay Day, which means Asian American women’s salaries are just catching up to what white men made in 2016. Compared to their white male counterparts, Asian American women working full time typically are only paid 85 cents for every dollar paid to white men.

CWLC Celebrates Women’s History Month

March is a month of reflection and appreciation for women, but it is also a month of action. Please join us as we celebrate the gains women have made since our country was founded and know that CWLC will be on the frontlines to stop any attempt to force women backward or diminish our possibilities. Together, we will be successful in our mission to ensure the future is bright and full of opportunity for every woman and every girl in the nation.

Women’s History Month Events

The California Women’s Law Center is proud to recognize March as Women’s History Month. Every month, but especially this month, CWLC is proud to recognize the fearless women who shaped our past and whose sturdy shoulders we now stand in our ongoing fight for fairness and equality. Get involved all month long!

Susan B. Anthony Day 2017

Today would have been Susan B. Anthony’s 197th birthday. Ms. Anthony dedicated her life to fighting for women’s rights, traveling across the nation fighting for a woman’s right to vote. She also campaigned for the abolition of slavery, the right for women to own property and retain their earnings, and for women’s labor organizations.

National Girls & Women in Sports Day 2017

The California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) is proud to celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day, commemorating the extraordinary achievements of women and girls who participate in athletics.

Forty-four years after the enactment of Title IX, however, schools continue to discriminate against female athletes. Female students still have significantly fewer opportunities to participate in sports compared to their male counterparts, and often also have unequal funding, facilities and equipment. CWLC remains committed to fighting for gender equity in California schools. We proudly maintain our role as an expert regarding matters relating to Title IX throughout California and serve as a primary resource center in the state for girls, parents, coaches, school officials, and policymakers.

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act – 8th Anniversary

On January 29, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which ensured that women like Ms. Ledbetter are able to successfully assert their claims by confirming that each discriminatory paycheck rejects the 180-day statute of limitations to file a claim.

Distinguished Speaker Series with Erwin Chemerinsky and Michele Goodwin of UCI School of Law

On February 22, 2017, the California Women’s Law Center and our sponsors Sleeping Lion, Inc. and Lois & Jim Thompson and co-hosts Cathy Kim & Matthew Kelly and Rasha Gerges Shields hosted a Speaker Series with Erwin Chemerinsky and Michele Goodwin titled “Forecasting Reproductive Health and Rights in the Era of President Trump.”

Distinguished Speaker Series with Erwin Chemerinsky and Michele Goodwin of UCI School of Law

On February 22, 2017, the California Women’s Law Center and our sponsors Sleeping Lion, Inc. and Lois & Jim Thompson and co-hosts Cathy Kim & Matthew Kelly and Rasha Gerges Shields hosted a Speaker Series with Erwin Chemerinsky and Michele Goodwin titled “Forecasting Reproductive Health and Rights in the Era of President Trump.”

Poverty Awareness Month and the “Aging, Women and Poverty In California” White Paper

CWLC 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.

Rally to Save Roe

Individuals joined the National Council of Jewish Women|Los Angeles (NCJW|LA) and several cosponsoring organizations to Rally to Save Roe, which was a rally and training to defend women’s reproductive rights in America. The rally began at 6:00 pm and on Fairfax Avenue between Clinton Street and Rosewood Avenue.

In the face of an uncertain political climate, supporters demonstrated their commitment to upholding the right to abortion that was established 44 years ago in the historic 1973 Supreme Court Case, Roe vs. Wade.

Equal Pay in California: Pay Equity And Discrimination

On Thursday, December 8, 2016 the California Fair Pay Collaborative, comprised of the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center, Equal Rights Advocates, and California Women’s Law Center, presented a webinar titled “Equal Pay in California: Pay Equity And Discrimination.”

Warm Holiday Wishes to You and Yours!

Thanks to the commitment of generous supporters like you, CWLC made significant strides …

Speaker Series with David Codell

David Codell is a Los Angeles-based attorney whose private practice focuses on constitutional, business, and entertainment litigation. He represents clients in state and federal courts, both at the trial-court and appellate level, and he has secured victories in numerous cases with historic rulings advancing civil rights.

Thank You to Our Veterans

On Veterans Day, the California Women’s Law Center is proud to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of our service members. CWLC is committed to advocating on behalf of our veterans, with a strong focus on serving the rapidly increasing number of female veterans.