Filing amicus briefs in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health demanding meaningful access to abortion

Gender Justice’s brief makes the case that there is no practical difference between a fifteen-week abortion ban and a total abortion ban, and focuses on the barriers clients of abortion funds and practical support organizations face in accessing care before 15 weeks of pregnancy, forcing many of them to have abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy despite trying to access abortion earlier. 

Legal Voice’s brief focuses on the very real threat that this abortion ban would pose to survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV)—especially to survivors from Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color (BIPOC). 

Mobilizing to protect abortion access in response to TX Senate Bill 8

See Gender Justice’s SCOTUS Chat: Texas Abortion Ban Goes to the Supreme Court on Facebook, where Erin Maye Quade and Jess Braverman unpack the arguments at November’s hearing about SB8.

Read SWLC’s official statement on Texas Senate Bill 8.

Gender Justice and allies organized a Bans Off Our Bodies march and rally, joining thousands of Minnesotans on behalf of reproductive freedom. The events were part of a national day of action to show decision makers in Minnesota that they demand reproductive rights, freedom, and justice. 

“With the Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene in a new Texas law banning abortion, the Court has sent a clear message: We cannot rely on them to protect our rights.Now is the time to fight harder than ever to protect and expand abortion access in Minnesota.” 

Women’s Law Project also joined allies in hosting their own regional Bans Off Our Body march.

See below for some samples of press coverage highlighting Alliance org leadership in response to the SCOTUS ruling, including op-eds from GJ and WLP.

Changing Minnesota law to protect transgender students

In 2021, Gender Justice won two legal settlements, together totaling more than $500,000, on behalf of transgender students Nick and Matt. The settlements follow a decision from the state Court of Appeals in Gender Justice’s case, N.H. vs. Anoka Hennepin School District cementing protections for transgender students in Minnesota schools. The court ruled that it violates both the Minnesota Constitution and the Minnesota Human Rights Act for a school or school district to segregate transgender students from their peers in locker room and bathroom facilities. These wins have sent a clear message to Minnesota school districts: It is illegal — and expensive — to discriminate against transgender students.

Gender Justice also launched a public education campaign to inform students, their families, and their schools about increased legal protections for transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming students who are returning to Minnesota classrooms. The campaign, “New Year, New Law,” also seeks to provide transgender students and their families with concrete, easy-to-use resources to help them combat discrimination when and if it occurs.

For more information on the settlements, see:

Transgender Student Wins $300K Settlement over Discrimination by Anoka-Hennepin School District

Transgender Student Wins Settlement Over Discrimination by Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School District

Supporting pregnancy protections through amicus work

Gender Justice was a leader in the fight to pass the MN Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA) and is now providing critical amicus support in this case to enforce WESA protections for pregnant workers, brought on behalf of a social worker whose supervisor refused to provide accommodations her doctor ordered, forced her to take unpaid leave, then fired her.

Click here to read about the Minnesota Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA)

Winning Minnesota Court victory for transgender students

Gender Justice and ACLU of MN filed an amicus brief with the state Court of Appeals arguing the Anoka-Hennepin School District violated the MN constitution by barring N.H., who was on the boys’ swimming team, from using the locker room that matched his gender identity. This ruling finds it unconstitutional in MN to segregate transgender students from their peers in locker room facilities.

Read more about this major decision.

Litigating impact cases to challenge discrimination against trans youth athletes

Legal Voice and Gender Justice cases (Hecox v. Little and Cooper v. USAPL) have garnered widespread media coverage and support from health care, women’s rights, and civil rights organizations and current and former athletes, including Billie Jean King and Megan Rapinoe.

“Trans women belong in women’s sports, and their right to compete is supported by the International Olympic Committee, the International Powerlifting Federation’s Executive Committee, as well as federal and Minnesota state law,” Jess Braverman, legal director at Gender Justice, said in a statement. “USA Powerlifting’s ban on transgender athletes is not only illegal, it’s also rooted in outdated gender stereotypes that harm all women athletes.”

Transgender athlete sues after being excluded by USA Powerlifting. – The Hill

URGENT BRIEF

The CPC Industry as a Surveillance Tool of the Post-Roe State

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