In the courtroom this month and other news from Gender Justice

October 28, 2022

Dear Friend,

Elections are days away and we see attacks on LGBTQ and reproductive rights on the rise. But we have one of the most powerful legal teams in the country at work, every day, to protect and advance gender equity.

Just this month:

Gender Justice appeared in a court hearing on behalf of our client, Christina Lusk, to oppose a motion to dismiss our lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC). Ms. Lusk, a transgender woman, is currently incarcerated in DOC custody and is being housed in a men’s facility, despite being medically, legally, and socially recognized as female.

On October 14, Gender Justice was in court on behalf of our client, Andrea Anderson, who was denied her prescription for emergency contraception on the basis of the pharmacists’ religious beliefs. At the conclusion of our trial in August, the jury found in favor of the pharmacies. We vowed to keep on fighting, and Legal Director Jess Braverman argued that the jury’s verdict was so erroneous as a matter of law that the court must set it aside and rule in Ms. Anderson’s favor, or, failing that, grant us a new trial.

We will keep you updated as the cases proceed!

What’s at Stake at the Supreme Court

The stakes couldn’t be higher at the U.S. Supreme Court. In the next month, the new court is going to be hearing cases about affirmative action, elections, LGBTQ+ discrimination, and more.

This week, Gender Justice Communications Director Erin Hart and Legal Director Jess Braverman hosted a conversation about what to expect, and it is available for you to watch on YouTube.

Join Our Team

We are looking for the newest member of our team! The Finance and Administration Director is responsible for financial strategy and leadership, budget and financial analytics, program-specific financial management, as well as Human Resource oversight and administration.

Please share with your networks or consider applying yourself! More info

Help Inform Our Work!

The rights of women and LGBTQ+ people are under attack. We’re fighting back, and we need your input to make our movement as strong as possible. Last week, we launched a survey of our supporters to help chart the way forward.

Can you fill out this quick survey to help determine our next strategies and priorities?

Welcome, Paola!

Our team is delighted to welcome Paola as the Legal and Administrative Assistant!

Paola was born and raised in Mexico City until the age of ten when she and her family moved to Grand Rapids, MN. Following graduation, Paola moved to Los Angeles and specialized in Treasury Management, working for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Nearly a decade later and back in Minnesota, Paola found her passion for advocacy work, and gained years of experience in Family and Criminal law.

Thank you for reading!
–The Gender Justice Team