CWLC in the News
CWLC Assists Local Parent in Battle for Title IX Compliance at Chatsworth High School
Since 2009, CWLC and Cheree Coyle have been working together in an effort to bring Chatsworth High School into compliance with Title IX. While Coyle’s son “got to play on a Dodger Stadium-type of field,” once her daughter began playing softball, it was obvious that the facilities for the two teams could not be more different. The significantly smaller girls’ field was shared with soccer teams and phys-ed classes, creating a near-grassless outfield full of dangerous pits and holes. Poor drainage caused flooding from first base across to shortstop. Only the baseball field had an electronic scoreboard, and the school failed to provide qualified athletic trainers equally to male and female student athletes.
After CWLC contacted the High School about the disparity between its softball and baseball programs, the school and the Los Angeles Unified School District found that some of Chatsworth’s athletics programs were out of Title IX compliance, and the district ordered a staggering 19 required actions. To date, many but not all of the actions LAUSD ordered to restore parity have been completed.
“You’ve got to do what’s fair. If no one stands up, it’s never gonna change,” said Coyle.
Read the Chatsworth Patch’s article on the fight for equality at Chatsworth High.
CWLC cited for amicus brief challenging ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
On April 4, 2011, CWLC joined an amicus brief asking the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a district court’s decision that struck down the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (“DADT”) policy. DADT discriminates against members of the military who are openly lesbian, gay or bisexual. The repeal of DADT was signed into law by President Obama in December, 2010, but the policy is still in effect during the on-going repeal process. During this time, lesbian, gay and bisexual service members are still subject to discharge under the policy.
The amicus brief was joined by 20 other organizations from the Asian American, African American, women’s and other minority communities.
Read the Asian Journal’s article on the DADT amicus brief.
Download a copy of the DADT amicus brief.
CWLC’s Teen Dating Violence Work Helps Promote Respectful Teen Relationships
The Napa Valley Register recently released a column on teen dating violence, citing resources compiled as part of CWLC’s S.T.O.P. Teen Dating Violence program. The column refers readers to CWLC’s JustDateNow.org website as one of the few online resources for teens.
Read the Register’s column on teen dating violence.
CWLC Urges Supreme Court to Give Wal-Mart Women a Hearing
CWLC joined 31 other organizations, including the National Women’s Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union in urging the Supreme Court to approve a court hearing for a group of Wal-Mart employees’ claims of company-wide sex bias.
The High Court’s decision could permit allegations of gender discrimination on behalf of more than one million current and former Wal-Mart female employees to go to a public trial.
Read Womens E-News coverage of CWLC’s petition.
CWLC Founder Abby Leibman named President and CEO of MAZON
Abby Liebman, one of the three founders of the California Women’s Law Center, is the new President and CEO of MAZON. MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger is a national nonprofit organization working to prevent and alleviate hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the United States, Israel and some developing nations.
Liebman is ”look[ing] forward to building on MAZON’s remarkable achievements and bringing my passion for advocacy and justice to the struggle to end hunger.”
Read JTA’s report on Leibman’s new position.
Former CWLC Attorney Honored by Loyola Law School’s St. Thomas More Law Honor Society
Loyola Law School’s St. Thomas More Law Honor Society presented Paula Pearlman with its Ignatian Award at a ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. The award recognizes members of the legal community committed to high ideals and a life devoted to theservice of faith and promotion of justice. Pearlman, a visiting associate professor of law at Loyola, is executive director of the Disability Rights Legal Center.
Read Loyola’s Press Release on Pearlman’s Award.
Former CWLC Board Member Appointed to Federal Judiciary
Dolly Gee, former CWLC Board Member was nominated by President Barack Obama to a seat on the United States District Court for the Central District of California.On October 15, 2009, the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary referred Gee’s nomination to the full Senate, which confirmed Gee by unanimous consent on December 24, 2009.
Read the Ninth Circuit’s News Release on Gee’s Appointment.
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