Rochester Rallies in Support of the 10 Point Women's Equality Agenda

As women's rights are rolled back in many areas of the U.S., NYS has a chance to make history by passing the 10 point Women's Equality Agenda.  On June 17, 2013 more than a 100 supporters rallied in Rochester, NY in support of this legislation.    A variety of groups and businesses were represented including Metro Justice, The League of Women Voters, Coffee Connection, Alternatives for Battered Women, NOW, Red and Black, NYCLU, AAUW to name a few.  

The 10 Points of the Women's Equality Agenda are:
    1.    Protect Reproductive Health and Choice
Every woman should be able to decide what is best for her and her family when deciding whether to use contraception, have a child or end a pregnancy, especially when her health is in danger. This measure ensures that every woman in New York State can get the health care she needs. It’s not only about strengthening reproductive rights; it’s about supporting autonomy, privacy and dignity.
    2.    Achieve Pay Equity
Women in New York make just 84 percent of what their male peers are paid. This measure strengthens existing laws and enforcement measures to close the wage gap.
    3.    Stop Sexual Harassment in All Workplaces
Three-quarters of sexual harassment complaints filed in New York are filed by women. This measure closes loopholes in existing law to protect employees of any business, large and small, from sexual harassment.
    4.    Allow for Attorneys’ Fees in Employment, Lending and Credit Discrimination Cases
Victims of employment, credit and lending discrimination are overwhelmingly women. This measure amends state law to include a provision for reasonable attorneys’ fees for successful litigants, and ensures that discrimination victims have an opportunity to vindicate their rights.
    5.    Strengthen Human Trafficking Laws
Sex-trafficking victims are almost always women. This measure creates an affirmative defense in prostitution prosecutions for defendants who are sex-trafficking victims.
    6.    End Family Status Discrimination
Women with children are less likely to be recommended for hire or promoted, and in most cases are offered lower salaries than similarly situated men. This proposal prohibits employers from denying work or promotion to workers simply because they have children.
    7.    Stop Source-of-Income Discrimination
Many landlords will not rent to people who need low-income housing assistance, the overwhelming majority of whom are women. This measure prohibits discrimination against tenants based on lawful sources of income.
    8.    Stop Housing Discrimination for Victims of Domestic Violence
State law does not protect domestic violence victims from housing discrimination, meaning landlords can evict them under zero tolerance policies. This measure protects victims of domestic violence from discrimination when they attempt to purchase, rent or lease housing.
    9.    Stop Pregnancy Discrimination Once and For All
Too often, women are fired or forced to take unpaid leave because employers are not required to make minor job modifications for pregnant women. This measure requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy-related conditions.
    10.    Protect Victims of Domestic Violence by Strengthening Order-of-Protection Laws
For someone facing threats of violence from an intimate partner, getting an Order of Protection can be difficult. This measure lifts some of the requirements of the process to make it less burdensome.
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There were about thirty anti-abortion/contraception protesters on the fringe of the rally.  Some yelling "murderers" at participants of the rally, others chanting "9 out of 10".   They are protesting to eliminate the First Point to protect women's reproductive rights and abortion.
    
NYS Senator Joseph Robach stated, "“I’m not going to support anything that expands into partial birth abortion,”   Senator Robach evidently has not educated himself regarding NYS abortion laws, since that procedure is already outlawed in New York. His statement might be based on his own ideology or the ideology of his donors, since a recent poll conducted by Andrew Sharp Consulting Firm, www.scribd.com/doc/147394499/IVR-Poll-Memo, showed that his constituents  are definitely in support of protecting Roe in New York State.