Civil Rights

The Hill reports: Three West Coast states signed a multistate commitment to protect abortion access on Friday after the Supreme Court ruled earlier to overturn Roe v. Wade. The governors of California, Oregon and Washington — all of whom are Democrats — vowed to expand abortion access for those seeking the medical procedure, refuse to extradite individuals to other states …

Axios reports: Multiple companies said Friday that they would help employees access reproductive health care and pay for travel expenses. Disney told employees Friday that “we recognize the impact of the ruling” and the company will provide access to quality and affordable care for employees and their families, which includes family planning and reproductive care, a Disney spokesperson told Axios. …

CNN reports: The Supreme Court limited the ability to enforce Miranda rights in a ruling Thursday that said that suspects who are not warned about their right to remain silent cannot sue a police officer for damages under federal civil rights law even if the evidence was ultimately used against them in their criminal trial. The court’s ruling will cut …

Gothamist reports: Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday signed the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York, which aims to prevent voter suppression or dilution based on race or language preference, at a ceremony in Brooklyn. The signing coincides with the federal Juneteenth holiday, which commemorates the liberation of the last enslaved Africans two years after the end of …

The New York Daily News reports: New York is going further to protect abortion seekers and providers as a potential Supreme Court ruling is expected that could overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. Gov. Hochul on Monday signed a package of new measures into law meant to bolster legal protections for abortion service providers against extradition, arrest and legal …

The New Arab reports: Turkish police violently attacked students during a LGBT Pride march at Ankara’s Middle East Technical University (METU) on Friday, according to reports. Multiple videos have surfaced on Twitter showing dozens of police armed with shields and batons entering the university and detaining some of the students. Some tweets said that the police also used tear gas. …

USA Today reports: Protests against the Supreme Court’s leaked draft opinion to overturn the nearly 50-year precedent set by Roe v. Wade are set to culminate Saturday with a nationwide “day of action” featuring marches, rallies and speakers in dozens of cities. The “Bans Off Our Bodies” daylong event is organized by groups including Women’s March, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, …

The Greek Reporter reports: Greece banned conversion therapy, or a widely criticized method of attempting to change one’s sexual or gender identity, for minors on Wednesday. The bill, which passed in parliament, will impose hefty fines and even prison terms on psychologists and other mental health professionals who conduct conversion therapy on LGBT minors without their explicit consent. Additionally, advertising …

The Associated Press reports: Japan’s capital has announced it will start recognizing same-sex partnerships to ease the burdens faced by residents in their daily lives, but the unions will not be considered legal marriages. Support for sexual diversity has grown slowly in Japan, but legal protections are still lacking. The Tokyo metropolitan government unveiled a draft plan on Tuesday to …

Gothamist reports: Attorney General Letitia James and state lawmakers are pushing for a dedicated fund to pay for abortions for individuals traveling from states where the procedure could soon be banned. The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program would direct $50 million in state money to the Department of Health, which would then provide grants to abortion providers, according to one …

Axios reports: Most people who support upholding Roe v. Wade view its possible overturn as a danger to women, and think that development would put other rights in jeopardy, a CBS News poll out Sunday indicates. Almost two-thirds (64%) of respondents believe the Supreme Court should uphold Roe v. Wade, per the poll — of those, 82% believe overturning it …

From the editors of the right wing National Review: If the leaked opinion truly reflects the majority decision, that decision — as refined to this point — should be issued immediately as such. Publication would avoid the scandalous appearance that the Court’s rulings could be swayed by leaks and political pressure. Justices who plan to dissent could still do so …

Politico reports: Several voting rights and civil rights organizations as well as a Democratic-aligned redistricting group on Friday sued over Florida’s new congressional map that hands significant gains to Republicans and dismantles the North Florida seat now held by a Black Democrat. The League of Women Voters of Florida, which successfully challenged Florida’s last round of maps passed a decade …

The Associated Press reports: A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked a state law that effectively eliminated abortions in Kentucky after the state’s two remaining clinics said they couldn’t meet its requirements. The decision by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings was a victory for abortion rights advocates and a setback for the Republican-led legislature, which passed the law in …

Via press release from Human Rights Watch: Russia’s Justice Ministry on April 8, 2022 canceled the registration of Human Rights Watch, along with Amnesty International and 13 other offices of foreign nongovernmental organizations and foundations, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch had maintained an office in Russia for 30 years. The action was announced just days after an …

Religion News Service reports: Americans’ support for LGBTQ rights is higher than ever, according to a new report by Public Religion Research Institute, though two groups have “consistently lagged” in their support for key policies: Republicans and white evangelical Protestants. Those findings, released Thursday (March 17), are part of PRRI’s 2021 American Values Atlas project, a seven-year survey measuring Americans’ …

The New York Times reports: Three former Minneapolis police officers were found guilty on Thursday of federal crimes for failing to intervene as another officer killed George Floyd by pressing his knee on his neck for more than nine minutes. The case was an extraordinarily rare example of the Justice Department prosecuting officers for their inaction while another officer used …

Gallup reports: The percentage of U.S. adults who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual has increased to a new high of 7.1%, which is double the percentage from 2012, when Gallup first measured it. Gallup asks Americans whether they personally identify as straight or heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender as part of the demographic …

The New Zealand Herald reports: Parliament has passed a bill in its third reading that will ban conversion practices, such as those attempting to change people’s sexuality and/or gender. The bill passed with 112 MPs in favour, including all those from Labour, Act, the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori. Eight National MPs opposed the bill. It was an emotional …

The Jerusalem Post reports: The Health Ministry issued a circular on Monday morning banning medical professionals in Israel from providing conversion therapy. The circular stresses the risks to mental health posed by conversion therapy and prohibits all professionals from the offering, publicizing, or providing such “therapies.” Licensed professionals who do so will face sanctions, including severe disciplinary proceedings and the …