News & Commentary

Today, Attorney General Brad Schimel filed an appeal of Boyden verdict that favored Alina Boyden and Shannon Andrews, two women who courageously challenged an exclusion in state employee health benefits that targeted transgender employees for discriminatory treatment. After a trial in which a jury of Wisconsin citizens found that Shannon and Alina should be compensated for this discrimination, the state has harmed them yet again by appealing the verdict and delaying justice.  The state's group insurance board has already decided to offer coverage starting next year, making the appeal even more incomprehensible.

Protect Your Online Identity from Government Surveillance

Speak up now: The government must not undermine Flores’ protections for immigrant children and families.

The ACLU of Wisconsin is concerned about a case in which a judge has sealed the file in an open records case, as reported on by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Racine Journal Times. On Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018, Racine County Judge Eugene Gasiorkiewicz reportedly admonished the plaintiff in the case, Racine Ald. Sandra Weidner, to abide by his secrecy orders. Weidner faces charges of contempt of court, purportedly for having discussed the case with the Journal Sentinel.

  

We just won our case against the State of Wisconsin over health insurance coverage for transgender state employees. The Judge called the exclusion of coverage a straightforward case of sex discrimination.

This conversation is not just about leggings or tank tops. It is a bigger issue that zeroes in on unequal enforcement of a student dress code in violation of the Constitution and various civil rights statutes designed to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex.  All school administrators should reexamine their dress codes to guard against unfair practices, guidelines or policies, whether in the classroom, on the internet.

In a recent press release on his Facebook page, the Racine County Sheriff has made clear his intention to honor detainer requests issued to his jail by ICE.  The ACLU of Wisconsin recently issued a report reviewing cooperation with ICE by Sheriff Departments across the state.  In response to open record requests from the ACLU, the Racine Sheriff indicated that he had no policy or procedure concerning ICE detainer requests.