It’s that time of the year. No, not Bowl Game time: rather, it's time to
obsessively review all the changes, advances, defeats, seized and missed
opportunities that we experienced this year.
I’ve been reading past resolutions and plans and “what-ifs” to see what
can be learned from them to make 2013 an even better year. If that’s possible.
Be it RESOLVED: that civil marriage is a fundamental right,
and that all loving, committed couples in Washington (and throughout the
country) are entitled to share in the rights, the responsibilities, and the
protections of marriage. Whew! Cross
that one off, at least in Washington. Mind you,
the resolution dates from 2004, but after all, eight years is not that long in the struggle for justice. We’ll take it.
We are DETERMINED to protect the right of all women to
choose how to form and maintain their families.
At Legal Voice, this is an ongoing resolution, a fight that seems never to end. In 2012, we were able to take a
firm, triumphant stand alongside Jennie Linn McCormack, an Idaho woman who was
prosecuted for ending her pregnancy by using medication she obtained over the
Internet. The 9th Circuit
Court of Appeals upheld a trial court ruling that Ms. McCormack was likely to
succeed in her case arguing that the law prohibiting a woman from terminating
her own pregnancy was unconstitutional; we’re proud to have filed a persuasive
amicus brief in the case.
We INSIST that women – indeed, all patients – have the right
to obtain their needed and lawful medications. Okay, we didn’t quite succeed in this
one. In fact, it’s probably the biggest
disappointment we’ve had in years. In
February, a federal judge ruled that anti-choice pharmacists and pharmacies
could refuse to provide emergency contraception to women. With all appropriate respect to the courts
and the rule of law, we think the judge was wrong, and we’re not stopping until
we prevail.
We DEMAND that women have the right – and the practical
ability – to work and to care for their family members and themselves, and the
ability to escape family violence.
That’s why we have been fighting for paid family leave for many years,
and why we are so proud to be part of the Seattle Coalition for a Healthy
Workforce, which persuaded the Seattle City Council to adopt a Paid Sick and Safe Days ordinance covering employees who work in the city. And we’re not stopping there: we’ll be in
Olympia advocating for paid family leave, so all workers in Washington can leave violent situations and care for their
family members without risking their jobs.
We ENDEAVOR to help women and men who have nowhere else to
turn understand their legal rights and have some ability to represent
themselves in court if that is their only option. We’ve been doing that for more than thirty
years, and we know we’ve made a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of
people. Whether the issue is marriage for same sex couples, the rights of workers,
or simply how to navigate the legal system, Legal Voice provides information that people can understand
and use.
Establishing new law, enforcing the laws already on the
books, educating people about the law and their rights – in 2012, we at Legal
Voice made great strides with all three strategies. Is there more we can accomplish? Absolutely.
Are we prepared to fight on? Without
question. As for topping this year –
well, stay tuned, because we have plans. BIG PLANS.
Posts
