Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey Signs Coercive Control Bill Into Law

PUBLISHED 6/20/2024 by

Massachusetts just became the seventh state in the country to pass legislation classifying coercive control as a form of domestic violence.

Attorney Jamie Sabino of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute said the survivor and expert testimony that influenced legislators “spelled out the lifetime and generational harm caused by coercive control. Non-physical abuse like revenge porn, which is a form of technology abuse, is typically a precursor to more serious and violent acts, including sexual and physical assault or homicide.”

Keeping Score: State-Level Attacks on IVF and Abortion; Florida Parents Sue DeSantis Admin Over Book Bans; LGBTQ+ Women Face High Rates of Arrest

PUBLISHED 6/20/2024 by

In every issue of Ms., we track research on our progress in the fight for equality, catalogue can’t-miss quotes from feminist voices and keep tabs on the feminist movement’s many milestones. We’re Keeping Score online, too—in this biweekly roundup.

This week: the Suoreme Court upholds access to mifepristone; Biden calls for assault weapons ban; state legislators and courts aim to tighten abortion bans and access to IVF; U.N. Women denounced the “gender-critical” movement; LGBTQ women face high rates of arrest; and more.

Meet the Coalition of Governors Determined to Protect Abortion Rights for All Americans

PUBLISHED 6/20/2024 by

The Reproductive Freedom Alliance is a nonpartisan coalition of 23 governors determined to protect abortion rights and reproductive health.

“It shows the alignment of Democratic governors who are very clear about women’s health, public health and the fact that the Dobbs decision is a complete violation of long-held constitutional rights—fundamental rights for women and their families,” said New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

(This article originally appears in the Summer 2024 issue of Ms. Join the Ms. community today and you’ll get issues delivered straight to your mailbox!)

On Juneteenth, Black Leaders Need More Than Anti-Racism Lip Service. We Need Real Investments in Our Leadership.

PUBLISHED 6/18/2024 by and

Black women have long been on the frontlines of social movements—driving change, innovation and progress in our communities and beyond. From the streets to the voting booth, from community centers to the halls of Congress, Black women have made invaluable contributions to advancing justice for our families and communities at large.

Despite our invaluable contributions, organizations led by Black women and geared towards women of color often grapple with underfunding, skepticism and being considered an afterthought.

‘A Crisis of Health and Democracy’: Join Ms. to Debrief the Supreme Court Term at Georgetown Law, July 1

PUBLISHED 6/18/2024 by

The end of June marks the end of the Supreme Court’s term—and it’s been a roller coaster. Wondering what the experts are thinking about this year’s rulings on abortion, guns, domestic violence, presidential immunity and more? Join us July 1 for the 14th Annual Supreme Court Review at the Georgetown University Law School, co-sponsored by Ms. magazine.

‘The Way to Peace Requires Reconciliation’: The Ms. Q&A With Artist Tamara Gayer

PUBLISHED 6/18/2024 by

Albert Einstein once said, “In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity.” This maxim guides Israeli-American visual artist Tamara Gayer in her work to promote peace between Israel and Palestine. Gayer actively works to build U.S. financial support and raise funds for two anti-war organizations, Standing Together and A Land for All.

She spoke to Ms. as the war entered its eighth month: “A thirst for policies and organizations that do not pit the needs of Palestinians against those of Israelis, and vice versa, fills a deep need.”

It’s Time We All Saw Ourselves in Black Women

PUBLISHED 6/18/2024 by

When speaking about the critical need to center Black women’s joy and liberation in our quest to build a truly inclusive economy, I often get the inevitable question from a non-Black person of color: “But what about my people? Aren’t you being exclusionary?”

It reminds me time and time again how white supremacy has hardwired us to believe that Black people are different from the rest of us, further driving the false narrative that our struggles are not connected. We must learn to see ourselves in Black women and connect our liberation to theirs.