Updated January 7, 2012
The Department of Justice is not holding educational testing companies accountable for adequately accommodating people with disabilities, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Standardized tests of the type administered by these companies are often required or important for gaining admission to postsecondary education or professional certification programs. The report found that testing companies were failing to meet standards for reasonable accommodation established by the Americans with Disabilities Act and other civil rights laws. This would have the effect of limiting access to higher education for many of the 12 percent of Americans with a disability. Moreover, the GAO found that the Justice department, which has overall responsibility for enforcing ADA requirements, lacks a strategic approach to targeting enforcement.
Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Pete Stark (D-CA), who requested the report, have called on Attorney General Eric Holder to evaluate the Justice department’s approach and improve accountability for testing companies. “This report shows that testing companies are shirking the law at a great cost to intelligent, talented people seeking to advance their careers,” Stark said in a statement. “The Department of Justice has not set up a good system for policing these testing companies, which clearly need an active watchdog.”
- from AAUW's Washington Update for January 6, 2012.
Attorney General Eric Holder announced Friday that the FBI will be updating the definition of rape used to collect data from state and local law enforcement agencies. The definition had not been changed since 1927. The update, which will help ensure accuracy in data reporting in the Uniform Crime Report, removes “forcible” as a necessary condition for reporting, and expands the definition to include rapes committed against men, without the consent of the victim, and a broader range of sexual acts. This update is significant in that accurate and meaningful reporting of rape and crime statistics helps law enforcement ensure the appropriate use of resources and take steps to prevent future violence.
AAUW applauds this long overdue update. Now, we urge Congress to act on other efforts to reduce rape and violence against women, including full reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). VAWA reauthorization is an opportunity to strengthen, enhance, and streamline the existing programs and provisions in the law. The legislation includes new improvements, including some aimed at ending sexual violence on campus. These changes incorporate many of the provisions of the Campus SaVE Act (S. 834), which AAUW, the AAUW Action Fund Lobby Corps, and our members nationwide have worked so hard to advance.
Take Action! Tell your senators to cosponsor the bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act!
- from AAUW's Washington Update for January 6, 2012.
President Barack Obama announced Tuesday that the United States will begin to use foreign aid to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights around the world. Agencies such as the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development are to direct foreign aid to assist gays and lesbians facing human rights violations and to protect gay and lesbian refugees and asylum seekers. The administration’s announcement marks the first official U.S. policy to fight gay and lesbian human rights abuses abroad.
For far too long, the civil rights protections guaranteed to millions of Americans have been denied to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) communities. AAUW is committed to promoting vigorous protection of and full access to civil and constitutional rights for all people.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for December 9, 2011.
Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced legislation this week to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which helps state and local communities provide services for survivors and strengthens the criminal justice response to these type of crimes. Leahy stated the bill seeks to ensure services for all domestic and sexual abuse survivors. Crapo said the bill would help ensure that small states have access to victim services grants. VAWA was reauthorized in 2000 and in 2005, both with bipartisan support, and expired in September.
Take Action! AAUW strongly advocates the reauthorization of VAWA, as it is an opportunity to strengthen, enhance, and streamline the existing programs and provisions in VAWA. The legislation includes new improvements – some aimed at ending sexual violence on campus. These changes incorporate many of the provisions of the Campus SaVE Act (S. 834), which AAUW, Lobby Corps, and our members nationwide have worked so hard to advance.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for December 2, 2011.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2010 Hate Crime Statistics revealed that almost half of the incidents reported in 2010 were motivated by racial bias. The 2010 data, based on information from law enforcement agencies throughout the nation, indicated that 6,628 criminal incidents involving 7,699 offenses were based on bias toward a particular race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity/national origin, or physical or mental disability. Roughly 70 percent of the 3,725 single-bias hate crime offenses that were racially motivated were motivated by bias against African Americans.
Hate crimes are serious and well-documented problems but have historically been inadequately recognized and addressed. AAUW advocates for freedom from violence and fear of violence in homes, schools, workplaces and communities.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for November 18, 2011.
U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan became the first sitting cabinet secretary in history to openly support marriage equality. In an interview in Metro Weekly, Donovan said he was proud to be a New Yorker this summer when marriage equality passed there.
AAUW believes that no Americans should be denied the full range of civil rights and civil liberties due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for November 18, 2011.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA) and other House Democrats filed an amicus brief that says Republicans defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) do not represent the full House. Pelosi and the 132 House members filed the brief in the cases of Massachusetts v. Dept. of Health and Human Services and Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, which have reached the First Circuit Court of Appeals after a federal district court ruling that Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional. The amicus brief follows a 3-2 decision of the House’s Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group to defend DOMA in court. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) hired outside counsel for the job after the Justice Department said in February that it would no longer defend DOMA. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote next week on legislation that would repeal DOMA.
For too long the civil rights protections guaranteed to millions of Americans have been denied to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered communities. AAUW is committed to the vigorous protection of and full access to civil and constitutional rights, and advocates freedom in the definition of family and the guarantee of civil rights in all family structures.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for November 4, 2011.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to debate next week a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages. The repeal bill was introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who has stated that ending DOMA would grant “equal protection under the law” for legally married same-sex couples. The bill is expected to pass through the Judiciary Committee as it has the support of all 10 Democrats, but it is unlikely to have the bipartisan support needed to pass cloture in the full Senate. In February, President Barack Obama’s Justice Department stopped defending the portion of the law that recognizes only marriages between men and women, stating that the law “unconstitutionally discriminates” against same-sex couples.
In other DOMA news, gay and lesbian service members filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging DOMA in Boston’s federal district court. For military personnel, DOMA means that same-sex spouses are not eligible for benefits from the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs. This same court ruled last year that DOMA is unconstitutional. That decision is being appealed.
For too long the civil rights protections guaranteed to millions of Americans have been denied to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered communities. AAUW is committed to the vigorous protection of and full access to civil and constitutional rights, and advocates freedom in the definition of family and the guarantee of civil rights in all family structures.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for October 28, 2011.
The Topeka, Kansas, City Council recently repealed the local law that made domestic violence a crime. Citing the need for budget cuts, the council voted 7-3 to shift Topeka’s responsibility for prosecuting domestic violence cases to the district attorney. About 30 abuse suspects have been freed from charges while officials battled over who was responsible for prosecution.
AAUW Director-at-Large Amy Blackwell took the City Council to task in an AAUW Dialog post, noting that the decision was especially egregious because it occurred during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. AAUW supports efforts to strengthen and improve the response of the criminal justice and legal systems for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for October 14, 2011.
President Obama on Monday proclaimed October to be National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In his proclamation, Obama reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ending domestic violence. Obama noted that his administration has made strides toward this goal by working to prevent victims of domestic violence from being evicted or denied access to assisted housing, by helping victims gain access to legal counsel, and by preventing insurance companies from defining domestic violence as a preexisting condition through the national health care law. President Obama urged every American to participate in ending domestic violence through school and community programs and by stepping up when violence occurs.
AAUW supports efforts to create practical solutions to enhance collaboration between victim service organizations and civil legal assistance providers, as well as to strengthen and improve the response of the criminal justice and legal systems for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. In particular, VAWA reauthorization must work to protect students on campus who are consistently subject to sexual harassment, assault, and violence.
Take Action! Tell Congress to help fight sexual assault on campuses by passing the Campus SaVE Act!
- from AAUW's Washington Update for October 7, 2011.
The annual “State of the Congressional Workplace” report released by the Office of Compliance said that an increasing number of congressional staff members are seeking advice on how to deal with harassment and discipline issues. The offices on Capitol Hill are not required to keep personnel records, provide mandatory anti-discrimination training, or protect whistleblowers even though other government agencies and private employers are tasked with doing so. The report found that a majority of the counseling requests to the Office of Compliance came from employees of the Architect of the Capitol and U.S. Capitol Police, with just 19 percent of requests from House staff members and 4 percent from Senate employees.
AAUW believes that all people deserve a safe, welcoming, and harassment-free work environment.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for September 30, 2011.
Although new fall TV programs feature more female leads than in the past, women behind the cameras continue to lag behind men in both numbers and salary levels. Analyses by the Directors Guild of America and Writers Guild of America calculated that women directed only 12 percent of TV episodes in the 2010-2011 season, and only 1 percent of those episodes were directed by women of color. In the 2009 season, 28 percent of TV writers were women, but female writers’ salaries were $9,400 less on average than their male counterparts.
AAUW believes that equal pay for equal work is a simple matter of justice for women. Behind the Pay Gap, an AAUW research report, shows that just one year out of college, women working full time already earn less than their male colleagues, even when they work in the same field. Ten years after graduation, the pay gap widens. AAUW will continue to advocate within Congress and the administration to ensure that current equal pay laws are enforced, and to urge that appropriate measures to more thoroughly address the wage gap are passed.
Take Action! Tell Congress it’s time to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act!
- from AAUW's Washington Update for September 30, 2011.
A coalition of 56 religious, education, civil rights, and health groups signed a letter Monday urging President Barack Obama to end faith-based hiring in federally funded jobs. In the letter, AAUW and the other coalition members reminded Obama that his 2008 campaign position rejected the practice of companies and organizations that receive federal grant money discriminating against potential employees based on religious affiliation. The coalition requested a meeting with White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler to discuss this issue further.
AAUW urges the Obama administration to end federally funded employment discrimination. The separation of church and state is the linchpin of religious freedom. Governments can effectively collaborate with faith-based groups while neither abandoning church-state separation nor allowing federally funded religious discrimination.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for September 23, 2011.
The military’s 18-year-old “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy will be repealed next Tuesday, finally ending the ban on gay, lesbian, and bisexual Americans from serving openly in the U.S. military. The Marine Corps Times features the repeal in its September cover story entitled “We’re Gay: Get Over It.” Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” however, is only a step toward ensuring that all current and retired military personnel, regardless of sexual orientation, have access to the full range of benefits that military service provides, including education and medical benefits under the GI Bill, tax incentives, home loan assistance, and civil service preferences.
AAUW believes that discrimination against any class of persons has no place in our country, and that no Americans should be denied the patriotic opportunity to defend their country simply because of their sexual orientation. AAUW strongly supports the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for September 16, 2011.
As a part of AAUW’s new programmatic theme, “Education as the Gateway to Women’s Economic Security,” AAUW has developed a new campus initiative: Building a Harassment-Free Campus. Information regarding this initiative and the Campus Action Project focused on Building a Harassment-Free Campus is available online.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for October 6, 2005