Rights of Women

Policies Relating to Domestic Violence Victims in Public Housing

Description:

The ability to maintain safe and secure housing apart from her abuser is a key factor in a domestic abuse victim's success, while barriers to obtaining and maintaining housing undermine a battered woman's efforts to separate herself from the abuse and enhance the danger to her and her children. Some landlords, including some public housing authorities, deny admission to or evict victims of domestic violence because of the misconduct of the abuser. Because victims of domestic violence are disproportionately female, such actions discriminate against women in violation of fair housing laws.

Forum:

Informal advocacy with individual local public housing authorities.

Attorneys:

Roberta Rieck, Mark Silverman, Joyce Gosnell of Legal Action of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Liz Marquardt, Task Force on Family Violence, Milwaukee; Patti Seger of Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Madison; Shannon Nelson of Turning Point, serving St. Croix & Pierce Co; Emily Martin & Lenora Lapidus of ACLU Women’s Rights Project; Margaret Bowitz, Milwaukee Metro Fair Housing Council; Legal Director.

Equitable Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives

Description:

Female employees of Marathon County are denied coverage of prescription contraceptives that are essential to controlling their reproductive lives, and thus their full participation in the work place. The County’s employee health insurance plan covers most “federal legend drug products,” but does not cover implantable contraceptives (regardless of intended use) or prescription contraceptives (except in limited circumstances), in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, and analogous provisions of the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act.

Forum:

Wisc. Equal Rights Division/LIRC initially; state court if not resolved administratively.

Attorneys:

Steven Robinson, Wausau; Rebecca Salawdeh of Urban, Taylor & Stawski, Milwaukee; James A. Morsch of Butler Rubin Saltarelli & Boyd, Chicago; Lorie Chaiten, ACLU-Illinois; Legal Director.

Articles:

December 16, 2004>>ACLU Takes Action Against Marathon County Seeking Insurance
Coverage of Employee's Birth Control Needs. FULL STORY