Michigan passes ‘rape insurance’ bill. So what are you going to do about it?

Abandon hope all ye who enter here: Michigan has created a new ring of hell and it is called “rape insurance.” Call this the nexus of reproductive rights and rape culture. The Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act passed yesterday by the Michigan Legislature bans all insurance plans from covering abortion unless the woman’s life is in…

Coalition asks Facebook to take action about gender-based hate speech

*Trigger warning* Starting on May 21, a coalition of more than two dozen organizations — including Led by Women, Action & the Media, The Everyday Sexism Project, and author Soraya Chemaly — are calling on Facebook to end its complicit approval of memes and pages that promote violence against women and gender-based hate speech. As…

Pay It Forward Day: Nevada Big Give and more

Today is Pay It Forward Day and all I can think about is how we’re going to make the world a better place. Actually, we are making it a better place. You show me that all the time. Whether it’s the success of the hate crimes event last week, your generous spirit in turning the…

Comprehensive sex ed bill passes out of Assembly!

Now that’s a headline I’ve been dying to write! Moments ago, the Assembly passed AB230, the comprehensive sex ed bill. Of course, we’re not out the woods just yet. There will, no doubt, be battles in the State Senate to come. (The rash of myths about this bill being particularly troubling.) But for now, let…

What the fag bug has meant to me, or, why this is my line in the sand

Are you ready for the NOH8 in Las Vegas hate crimes event TOMORROW? I can’t believe it’s almost here! You can still RSVP here. And all this planning has me thinking about the first time I organized an event for Erin Davies and her “fag bug.” I spent most of the summer of 2007 organizing…