Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

The Trump Administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is considering a radical rollback of Obama-era decisions that recognized gender largely as an individual’s choice and not determined by the sex assigned at birth. This right-wing, extremist policy is designed to deprive transgender people of recognition and protection under civil rights law. It is clear that the administration intends to use this attack on trans persons as a message to energize their right-wing supporters prior to the mid-term election.

NOW unequivocally condemns the Trump Administration’s latest attack on transgender Americans. Over the course of the last two years, the Trump Administration has attacked the rights of transgender citizens. These attacks have been systematic and we must not only remain vigilant against further actions, but also seek to widen protections for non-binary people, trans people, and gender non-conforming individuals.

Earlier this year, the Department of Education rescinded an Obama Era guidance that recommended schools respect the rights of transgender students by allowing them to access gender affirming spaces including programs and bathrooms. As anti-bathroom laws proliferated across the United States, the rescinding of this guidance was a blow to the securing federal protections for transgender students.

The Department of Education rebuffed criticism to the decision and said that transgender students were still protected against discrimination and harassment under civil rights laws. The HHS’s new proposal to narrowly define sex discrimination as either female or male, unchangeable and determined by genitals proves that the Department had no intention of keeping this promise.

For the Trump Administration to remove civil rights protections against trans people will further exacerbate violence against them. Transphobic violence and harassment has been increasing in recent years and Trump’s unethical and harmful policies do nothing but legitimize anti-trans rhetoric. Transphobic violence and harassment disproportionately affect trans women and trans women of color and Trump’s policies will greatly affect their livelihoods.

Trump’s treatment of trans-Americans is indicative of his core beliefs. Human rights, dignity, and federal support will only be afforded to those who look, act, and think like him. We have a simple message for the Trump Administration: Trans people will not be erased. Not from history, not from civil rights, and not from our country. NOW stands with trans people and reaffirms our commitment to supporting and promoting policies that protect and uplift trans and non-binary people.

When voters go to the polls in the midterms, they should ask themselves if they want to support candidates who believe in restricting or eliminating civil rights protections or expanding them. Our vote is our voice—and we intend to use it.

Contact

NOW Press, press@now.org, 202-628-8669

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON– Donald Trump picked a Supreme Court Justice cast in his own image. Trump chose a bully, a serial liar and a man who treats women with disrespect. These are the qualities that Donald Trump most admires.

NOW was proud to work in coalition with other groups that rose up in opposition to Brett Kavanaugh. For more than 50 years, NOW has been on the frontlines of history, and this effort was nothing short of historic. We have just witnessed the opening moves in a cynical, dangerous strategy.

Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell are seeking to perpetuate a toxic culture of male fury designed to hold women back and hold on to power.

They are betting they can mobilize a party of angry white men and the women who enable them, energized by the Brett Kavanaugh nomination. They see the midterm elections as their chance to repudiate the #MeToo movement and further marginalize women.

The massive uprising against Brett Kavanaugh, like the Women’s March before it, will go down as a turning point in history. The energy and activism sparked by this nomination will not go away. It is now a permanent force in our politics and society.

NOW is more determined than ever to challenge the culture of anger and fear that produced this nomination. We will take this message to voters in the next election – NOW is going to march, canvass, call and campaign with vigor, energy and, enthusiasm like never before. No More Kavanaughs, no more Trumps, no more McConnells.

Enough is Enough.

Contact

Brittany T. Oliver, comms@now.org, 202-628-8669

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON – Donald Trump Jr. just said that the current debate over sexual assault has made him more worried for his sons than his daughters. Ann Coulter mocked the “snickering at white men” and asserted “there has never been a more pacific, less rapey creature than the white male of Western European descent.” Of course, there’s the current sexual assaulter who occupies the White House who surrounds himself with men who disrespect and abuse women. And then there are the women staff members who make excuses and defend these predators.

Famous media personalities like Bill Cosby have committed the most horrific attacks on women and abused their power and privilege. The Catholic Church’s shameful history of obstructing justice for survivors of sexual assault is revealed with increasingly damning detail. Add to that Jewish and Southern Baptist leaders assaulting their parishioners and condoning domestic violence by the men who practice their religion. And men on campuses who attack women and call the women perpetrators when they speak their truth, just like the dean at Catholic University has.

All this feeds into the current debate over Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, and Lindsey Graham, among others, are betting they can mobilize a party of angry white men to rally behind one of their own. They seek to perpetuate a toxic culture of male fury designed to hold women back and hold on to power.

Today, Senator Susan Collins and Senator Lisa Murkowski- along with the male Senators who proclaim their good will toward women- have an important decision to make, one that will either prop up the toxic male culture or begin to tear it down. Women everywhere – from inside elevators to around the kitchen table – will continue speaking truth to power. And those in power need to listen.

The Senate must vote against Brett Kavanaugh. And we must continue to challenge the culture of toxic masculinity and white privilege that produced his nomination.

Enough is enough.

Contact:

Brittany T. Oliver, comms@now.org, 202-628-8669

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to send Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Senate floor, just hours after Kavanaugh’s appalling testimony. His lies, political attacks and aggressive, bullying behavior underlined just how unfit he is to serve on any judicial bench.

At the last minute, Senator Jeff Flake has joined the call for an FBI investigation of the charges against Brett Kavanaugh, and to delay a floor vote for a week while this takes place. But this won’t happen unless Donald Trump agrees.

NOW calls on Mitch McConnell to endorse Senator Flake’s initiative and to ask the White House to begin an FBI investigation.

Brett Kavanaugh’s lack of judicial temperament was on display for all to see during yesterday’s hearing. But what we didn’t see, or hear, were the facts behind the charges made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, Deborah Ramirez, and Julie Swetnick.

We need to hear from Mark Judge and other witnesses with essential knowledge that the Senate has so far ignored. We need the truth. We need the facts. Only the FBI can provide them.

Enough is enough.

Contact

Brittany T. Oliver, comms@now.org, 202-628-8669

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON — Dr. Christine Blasey Ford did the nation a profound service with her brave, compelling and honest testimony today. No one will ever forget her recollection of the way Brett Kavanaugh and Mark Judge laughed at victimizing and terrorizing a 15-year old girl.

The contrast with Brett Kavanaugh’s smug, imperious and contrived image as a misunderstood choir boy could not have been more stark—or more disturbing. While Dr. Blasey Ford showed thoughtfulness in her answers, Kavanaugh showed blatant disrespect – especially to the female senators, whom he frequently interrupted. Brett Kavanaugh not only showed no remorse for his actions but no understanding of their consequences. He politicized the hearing and parroted Donald Trump’s attack lines. But he still refused to call for an FBI investigation or to call additional witnesses like Mark Judge.

Brett Kavanaugh is demonstrably unfit to be on the Supreme Court. He was unfit BEFORE the allegations of sexual assault and continues to be unfit today. In addition, he is equally unfit to continue to serve on the U.S. District Court of Appeals. Brett Kavanaugh should withdraw his nomination and step down from the federal bench. Enough is enough.

Contact

Brittany T. Oliver, comms@now.org, 202-628-8669