News & Commentary

This administration appears to be celebrating Women’s History Month in the most ironic way possible – by aggressively attacking gender equality and trying to reverse decades of hard-fought wins.

So, what can you expect from this year’s legislature in terms of civil rights and civil liberties?

Abortion is Still safe, legal and protected in Alaska.

We can preserve privacy rights in Alaska. We can protect our constitution. And we know we cannot do it alone; we are in this together.

Almost two months into the 32nd Alaska Legislative Session, the state’s lawmakers have gotten off to a bumpy start in tackling all the issues facing our state. The House did not organize until Feb. 18, when a multi-party coalition formed with Rep. Louise Stutes as Speaker, allowing the chamber to begin formal legislative work. This majority coalition should prevent passage of most, if not all, detrimental legislation that we’re watching, as well as increase the chances of positive policy advancements.

In Alaska, 40-year-old restrictions on clinics forced women who needed to terminate a pregnancy after the 1st trimester to leave the state in order to obtain the care they needed. Along with Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights, we filed a lawsuit to challenge the restrictions and allow woment to make their personal, private decisions without governmental interference.

The ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and the Center for Reproductive Rights filed suit today to challenge Alaska restrictions which effectively ban health centers from providing abortion after the first trimester of pregnancy. 

We're disappointed that earlier today, Governor Walker announced he would allow House Bill 156, a bill that restricts the free speech rights of Alaskan students, to become law despite its constitutional infirmities.

The Alaska Supreme Court struck down a state law requring parental notification before minor women can obtain abortions, citing the law's violation of both the equal protection guarantee as well as privacy rights. After this law was passed in 2010, we joined Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Center for Reproductive Rights in representing Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and other abortion services providers targeted by the law.