Legal Voice
"I never doubted that equal rights was the right direction. Most reforms, most problems, are complicated. But to me there is nothing complicated about ordinary equality." --Alice Paul, American lawyer, activist, feminist
On March 6, 2018, the Seattle Times published an op-ed written by two women, Michele Frix and Ruchika Tulshyan, about five bills awaiting signature by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee. Per Frix and Tulshyan: “These landmark bills collectively will better the lives of women in our state by seeking to address two issues that disproportionately impact us: workplace sexual harassment and gun violence related to domestic violence and abuse.” They listed other groups, all headed by women, that advocated getting the legislation passed, including the nonprofit Legal Voice.
The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) has not always been welcoming to women. Since its formation in 1888 there have been only five women presidents. When current Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary Fairhurst became WSBA president in 1997, there had been only one female president before her. Washington Women Lawyers grew out of a need to establish a legal association that would include women in leadership and mentoring roles. From there, women lawyers realized that a “women lawyers” association was not enough. They needed to establish a nonprofit that would seek justice and equality for all and that vision became Legal Voice.
As noted on their website: Legal Voice is a progressive feminist organization using the power of the law to make change in the Northwest. We use that power structure to dismantle sexism and oppression, specifically advocating for our region’s most marginalized communities: women of color, lesbians, transgender and gender-nonconforming people, immigrants, people with disabilities, low-income women, and others affected by gender oppression and injustice.
A recent Legal Voice victory brought protections for LGBTQ parents. Since its inception Legal Voice has worked to ensure that the law recognizes all families, including LGBTQ couples and their children. The new law advocated by Legal Voice will result in all parents being recognized, making it easier to prove parentage in other states.
Legal Voice lists key provisions of this change to the Uniform Parentage Act: It allows people who are presumed to be a child’s parent under Washington law (including married same-sex couples who have children) or who are intended parents through the use of assisted reproduction to sign what is called a “voluntary acknowledgement of parentage.” Under federal law, we believe every state in the country should be required to recognize a voluntary acknowledgement of parentage as proof that a person is a child’s legal parent.
This provides a way for LGBTQ parents to help protect their rights in every state in the country, without having to go to court.
A recent Legal Voice victory brought protections for LGBTQ parents. Since its inception Legal Voice has worked to ensure that the law recognizes all families, including LGBTQ couples and their children. The new law advocated by Legal Voice will result in all parents being recognized, making it easier to prove parentage in other states.
Legal Voice lists key provisions of this change to the Uniform Parentage Act: It allows people who are presumed to be a child’s parent under Washington law (including married same-sex couples who have children) or who are intended parents through the use of assisted reproduction to sign what is called a “voluntary acknowledgement of parentage.” Under federal law, we believe every state in the country should be required to recognize a voluntary acknowledgement of parentage as proof that a person is a child’s legal parent.
This provides a way for LGBTQ parents to help protect their rights in every state in the country, without having to go to court.
Another Legal Voice victory began as a lawsuit filed on behalf of a mother named Ramona. Ramona had worked at a company successfully for 20 years. She took time off to care for her son after he was beaten by his father and hospitalized. Her employer demoted her and then fired her. Legal Voice filed a lawsuit on Ramona’s behalf, because, as they state on their website: “women should not have to put their jobs at risk to protect themselves and their children.”
The Washington State Supreme Court found in favor of Ramona. Legal Voice then demanded that the Washington State Legislature enact legislation so that all survivors would be able to take time off work to deal with the effects of violence. Washington state now has some of the strongest workplace-protection laws for survivors of domestic violence. Legal Voice then set out to educate the people in Washington state about the new law.
Legal Voice advocates for women and their families throughout the states of the Northwest: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. They also write amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs in cases affecting women throughout the nation. KABF is proud to be a part of the Legal Voice community.
Click here for more information about Legal Voice.
