This week has been full of terrible news for women’s rights and plain ol’ common sense public policy, so this story was a freakin’ awesome read.
Since Nevada seated the nation’s first majority-female state legislature in January, the male old guard has been shaken up by the perspectives of female lawmakers. Bills prioritizing women’s health and safety have soared to the top of the agenda. Mounting reports of sexual harassment have led one male lawmaker to resign. And policy debates long dominated by men, including prison reform and gun safety, are yielding to female voices.
With that majority comes a focus on subjects such as sexual assault, sex trafficking, child marriage, and sexual misconduct.
“I can say with 100 percent certainty that we wouldn’t have had these conversations" a few years ago, said Assembly Majority Leader Teresa Benitez-Thompson (D). "None of these bills would have seen the light of day.”
But they are now. Some of the good ol’ boys are having trouble with their new world order, but I’m happy to say the report is that many of the guys are on board and being allies. So if you’re feeling down about the week’s news, give this article a read. There is progress out there.