Tracy Wolf

Last Monday, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, a case concerning access to abortion. With a 5-3 decision authored by Justice Stephen Breyer, the Court ruled that requirements in a Texas law place a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking an abortion and constitute an undue burden on abortion access, violating the constitution. Whole Woman’s Health, which was arguably the most important abortion case on the Court’s docket in over two decades, provided a big victory for the reproductive rights movement. Click here to read the full opinion.

May 20 marked Transgender Day of Celebration, to acknowledge transgender lives in a joyful and celebratory context. Over the past few weeks, there has been a lot for the transgender community and allies to be excited about, especially as we move into the month of June, which is LGBT Pride Month!

Last week, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Zubik v. Burwell, a consolidation of several cases concerning the accommodation for religious non-profits to provide contraceptive coverage for their employees under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Court ruled to remand, or send back, the case to the lower courts for further review of alternatives to the accommodation as it currently functions, leaving key issues unanswered because the Court did not rule on the merits. Under the accommodation, religious non-profit organizations can object to providing contraception coverage for their employees. Once the employers notify the government of their objection, a third party administrator works with employees to ensure seamless coverage for contraception.

On June 2, millions of people across the county will be observing the second annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day, also known as Wear Orange Day. On January 21, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton – a majorette and high school student from the South Side of Chicago – marched in President Obama’s Second Inaugural Parade.  One week later, after finishing final exams, Hadiya was shot and killed in a park near her school.  Soon after this tragedy, Hadiya’s childhood friends asked their classmates to commemorate Hadiya’s life by wearing orange.  They chose the color orange to symbolize the value of human life, as hunters wear orange in the woods to protect themselves and others. This call to action from Hadiya’s classmates has grown into a national movement, and orange is becoming the symbol of gun safety. In June 2013, Women of Reform Judaism's Board of Directors issued a statement on gun violence prevention calling upon its members to continue to educate constituencies, congregations, and communities to become knowledgeable advocates for strong gun violence prevention measures; and work jointly with temple youth groups to the same end. Last year, the Reform Movement participated in the first ever National Gun Violence Awareness Day, and this year, the RAC and NFTY are once again working with Everytown for Gun Safety and dozens of other organizations, to draw awareness, to educate and to take action to prevent gun violence. Here are five ways that you and your sisterhood can get involved with Wear Orange this year: