Women’s Rights

Women's Rights In a photo shared to Rep. Emily Kinkead's Instagram, the Women's Health Caucus talk about the anti-choice bill pushed by the state Legislature. (Instagram / @repkinkead)
Women's Rights Bills to Restrict Abortion, Expand Gun Rights Start in Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Republicans began advancing bills to restrict abortion rights and expand gun rights, although the bills faced opposition by Democratic lawmakers and certain veto by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.

Associated Press Associated Press May 25, 2021 5:57 pm EDT
Jobs US Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., seen here speaking from the House chamber earlier this year, is one of ten members of the US House of Representatives from Pennsylvania who voted for the bill. (House Television via AP)
Jobs Which PA Representatives Support Pregnant Workers, and Which Don’t?

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act won broad bipartisan support while passing the US House of Representatives, even if a majority of Pennsylvania’s GOP lawmakers voted against it.

Ashley Adams Ashley Adams May 18, 2021 2:36 pm EDT
Jobs Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., is one of the eight republicans who voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act. (House Television via AP)
Jobs These Are the Eight PA Representatives Who Voted Against the Paycheck Fairness Act

Federal legislation that would prohibit employers from paying men more than women narrowly passed the US House of Representatives on Thursday.

Ume Sarfaraz Ume Sarfaraz April 21, 2021 1:02 pm EDT
Safety In this image from video, Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) speaks during a debate in the US House of Representatives on Jan. 7, 2021. (House Television via AP)
Safety These Eight PA Reps Voted Against the Violence Against Women Act

Even without their votes, the bill had bipartisan support in the House of Representatives and is moving on to the Senate.

Patrick Abdalla Patrick Abdalla March 19, 2021 4:22 pm EDT
State State Rep. Jessica Benham is sworn in on Jan. 5, 2021. Benham is the first openly queer woman and openly autistic person elected to the state Legislature. (Courtesy of Pennsylvania House of Representatives)
State More Women Than Ever Are in the PA Legislature. That’s Still Not Enough.

Women make up approximately 51% of the state population, but just under 29% of the state Legislature. Several groups are working to change that.

Patrick Abdalla Patrick Abdalla March 18, 2021 6:11 pm EDT

The Latest

In this Nov. 5, 2020 file photo, the Supreme Court is seen in Washington. The Supreme Court will take up challenges to controversial Trump administration policies affecting family-planning clinics and immigrants, even though the Biden administration has announced it is reviewing them. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) LGBTQ Supreme Court to Rule Soon on Philadelphia Case About Gay Adoptions
In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, people line up outside a polling place in Springfield, Delaware County, to vote in the 2020 general election. A Republican proposal made public on Thursday, June 10, 2021, would revamp Pennsylvania election law to affect deadlines, early voting and mail-in ballots and require ID for all in-person voters. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File) Elections Pennsylvania Republicans Push Election Legislation That Would Make Voting More Complicated
The Heller Dam in Lycoming County, seen in this September 2019 file photo, is almost 50 years old and is deemed a high hazard dam. It stores drinking water for over 50,000 people and more than 2,600 residents would be at risk if it ever failed. (Mark Nance/Sun-Gazette via AP) Infrastructure Dams Are Forgotten Infrastructure—Until They Fail
In this image from video, Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., speaks during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Senate Television via AP) LGBTQ See How Pennsylvania’s Congressional Members Have Voted on the Equality Act So Far
Women's Rights chief justice roberts in the majority restricting abortion pill access
Women's Rights Without Explanation, the Supreme Court Revives Restrictions on Abortion Pill

The Court issued its first abortion decision since Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed, and it stands to unfairly burden people of color and those living in rural areas by requiring them to pick up abortion medications in person.

Emiene Wright Emiene Wright January 14, 2021 3:49 pm EST
Women's Rights Graphic via Denzel Boyd for COURIER
Women's Rights Senate GOP Still Hasn’t Renewed the Violence Against Women Act. It’s Been 20 Months.

It’s been more than a year and a half since the bill moved to Mitch McConnell’s Senate, where the powerful gun lobby has stalled attempts to reauthorize the legislation.

Dr. Carole V. Bell Dr. Carole V. Bell December 17, 2020 3:50 pm EST