Released on June 18, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate’s vote to confirm Judge Justin Walker to the prestigious Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is a shameful example of how Mitch McConnell has turned the U.S.  Senate into a right-wing confirmation factory for unqualified, inexperienced, extremist federal judges.  Judge Walker is in many ways the worst of the worst.

He’s called the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its’ individual mandate an “indefensible position” and “catastrophic. “  

He praised his mentor Brett Kavanaugh’s vote to allow religiously affiliated employers to opt-out of providing standard birth control coverage to their employees. He’s also lauded Kavanaugh for being a “warrior” during his hearing process, calling Kavanaugh the victim, not the women who accused him of sexual assault.   

He wants to limit the federal government’s ability to protect women, civil rights, and workers.  

He has just seven months experience on a federal bench. 

Now, Justin Walker will take a seat on the court that’s regarded as the most important in the country, after the Supreme Court—and one that’s traditionally been a pipeline to the nation’s highest court.  

NOW is committed to opposing judicial nominees who share Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell’s contempt for the rights of women, particularly their constitutional right to reproductive healthcare.  We have our sights on the next election, where we can evict Mitch McConnell from the Majority Leader’s chair and elect a new, progressive, feminist Senate.  Today’s shameful vote to confirm Justin Walker reminds us that the stakes in this election couldn’t be higher.  

Contact: Press Team, press@now.org,

Released on June 16, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, the four-year anniversary of the 2016 PULSE nightclub shooting and during Pride month, the Trump administration announced its final rule – a slap in the face erasing health care protections for transgender Americans. During a global pandemic when health disparities are revealing deep inequities in our system, this rule perpetuates continued discrimination, structural racism, transphobia, and homophobia.  

This action makes it easier for doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies to deny transgender people health coverage by reversing an Obama administration rule that protected against discrimination on the basis of gender identity as well as sex. The rule also removes language that protected women and trans people seeking abortions, birth control, and other reproductive care.  

Not only is this rule based in hateful ideology that must be eradicated from our nation, it also endangers the lives of transgender Americans. Twenty-two percent of transgender adults and thirty-two percent of transgender adults of color have no health coverage, which already significantly limits their access to healthcare. Trump’s rule shows complete disregard for the trans community and trans people of color, who also face an enormous threat of violence and hate.  

NOW encourages all activists to come together and help dismantle the barriers keeping people from getting the health care they need, both culturally and legislatively. With the Supreme Court decision yesterday, we will work to get this rule reversed through lawsuits and the passing of the Equality Act in the Senate. We must also elect officials who pledge support to the transgender community and who seek to make our nation a safe place for all people. Together, we can ensure that marginalized communities have equal access to a health care system that does not discriminate.

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NOW Foundation is an amici on this case and for many years has been asserting that Title VII covers LGBTQIA+ persons.  Here is a link to the actual Syllabus: https://www.scotusblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/17-1618_hfci.pdf

Contact: Press Team, press@now.org,

Released on June 15, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court took a stand for freedom, justice, and equality today when it ruled that federal anti-discrimination laws protect gay and transgender employees.  NOW Foundation was an amici in this case, which defended the rights of two employees who were fired for being gay, and another who came out as transgender. 

The 6-3 ruling was joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch and Chief Justice John Roberts, who said that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination “because of sex” clearly includes LGBTQIA+ employees.  Today’s ruling is a stunning victory for LGBTQIA+ persons and the NOW community of activists.   

But even with today’s decision, Black LGBTQIA+ people still face disproportionate discrimination, violence, and hate. We must dismantle structural racism with legislation that helps remedy centuries of inequality and also addresses cultural barriers to progress.   

We have taken a step forward and we celebrate this victory but we have much more work left to do, including urging our Senators to pass the Equality Act, so we can secure comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Contact: Press Team, press@now.org,