Equal Rights

303 Creative LLC v. Elenis (Legal Case)

US Supreme Court case considering whether a Colorado law banning discrimination against LGBTQIA+ persons by businesses violates the business owner’s First Amendment right to freedom of religion.

Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (consolidated with Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina) (Legal Case)

Students for Fair Admissions, a non-profit representing students and others opposed to race-conscious admissions, sued Harvard University, alleging its consideration of race in admissions violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

Why Elections Matter: Shelby County v. Holder’s Impact on the Voting Rights Act (Blog)

Ten years ago, the Voting Rights Act's power to prevent election discrimination was undermined by the Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder.

The ruling's impact is still felt, as some politicians attempt to limit the electoral power of specific communities, such as Black and brown voters.

LWVUS Joins Letter Urging Congress to Support National Paid Sick and Safe Days Standard (Legal Document)

The League of Women Voters of the United States joined a sign-on letter urging Congress to support the Healthy Families Act, which would create a national paid sick and safe days standard.

Reflecting on the UN’s 2023 Commission on the Status of Women (Blog)

The United Nations' Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The CSW is instrumental in promoting women's rights, documenting the reality of women's lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women.

LWVUS Joins Letter Urging Congress to Support Paid Family and Medical Leave (Legal Document)

The League of Women Voters of the United States joined a sign-on letter urging Congress to support the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, which would create a national paid family and medical leave insurance program to help ensure that people can take time off of work for caregiving and serious health needs.

LWVUS Urges US Senate to Support Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) (Legal Document)

LWVUS sent a memo to members of the US Senate urging them to support S.J. Res. 4, a resolution to affirm the validity of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

Activists Call for DC Statehood on Emancipation Day (Blog)

In 2023, US and DC League members joined other leaders in the movement for DC Statehood to honor the holiday and discuss how statehood is both a human rights and racial justice issue.

Led by moderator Nile Blass, panelists included:

Virginia Kase Solomón, LWVUS
Jason Fink, DC Office of Federal and Regional Affairs
Jamal Holtz, 51 for 51
Dr. George Derek Musgrove, DC Vote, co-author of Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nationa's Capital
Philip Panel, Anacostia Coordinating Council

Dolores Huerta & the Power of Grassroots Democracy (Blog)

Dolores Huerta is a civil rights activist and labor leader who has dedicated her life to fighting for democracy in the United States, both in the government and the workplace. Growing up, she witnessed the struggles of farm workers and saw firsthand the injustices they faced. Her experience motivated her to become an activist and work towards creating a more democratic society.

LWVUS Joins Letter Supporting LIHWAP (Legal Document)

LWVUS joined coalition members in urging Congress to allocate $1 billion to continue the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) program to help families with growing water debt and rising water costs.