Legal Momentum facts for kids
| Formation | 1970 (founded as the NOW) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Muriel Fox |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York, United States |
Legal Momentum is a special group that helps women and girls in the United States. It started in 1970 and was the first of its kind! It was co-founded by Betty Friedan and Muriel Fox. Muriel Fox is still a leader there. Carol Baldwin Moody became its President and CEO in 2018.
The group used to be called the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund. It changed its name to Legal Momentum in 2004. Legal Momentum works on many different issues. It helps advance women’s rights and gender equality. This means making sure everyone has fair chances, no matter their gender.
Legal Momentum focuses on:
- Equal chances in education.
- Fairness in courts.
- Stopping all kinds of violence against people because of their gender.
- Fairness at work and helping women become financially strong.
The group uses three main ways to help: going to court, working on new laws, and teaching people. Its main office is in New York City.
Contents
How Legal Momentum Helps
Legal Momentum has been involved in many important actions to help women and girls.
Fighting for Fairness in Court
Legal Momentum works hard to make sure courts are fair for everyone.
- In 1970, they won a case called Sprogis v. United Air Lines, Inc.. This case helped stop unfair treatment based on if someone was married or their gender.
- From 1978 to 1988, they started projects to get more women chosen as federal judges. They also worked to remove unfair ideas about gender in courts. This work continues today, helping to train judges and others.
- In 1984, they won Tallon v. Liberty Hose Co. No. 1. This case helped women become firefighters and fought against unfair treatment.
- In 1996, they helped in the United States v. Virginia case. This case was about the Virginia Military Institute not letting women join. Legal Momentum helped argue that this was unfair.
- In 2000, they argued the United States v. Morrison case, even at the highest court, the U.S. Supreme Court. This case was about a part of the Violence Against Women Act.
- In 2002, they helped in Apessos v. Memorial Press Group. This case showed that it was wrong for an employer to treat someone unfairly if they needed time off because they were experiencing abuse.
- In 2014, they helped in U.S. v. Castleman. This case was about whether people who have been found guilty of domestic abuse should own guns.
- Also in 2014, they helped in Young v. United Parcel Service. This case was about making sure pregnant workers get fair treatment at work.
Working on Laws and Policies
Legal Momentum helps create and change laws to stop unfair treatment based on gender.
- Starting in 1991, Legal Momentum worked with lawmakers to create and pass the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994. This law focuses on stopping domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Since 1994, VAWA has provided a lot of money to help victims, train people in the justice system, and prevent gender-based violence.
- To pass VAWA, Legal Momentum brought together many groups to form the National Task Force on the Violence Against Women Act. This group is now called the National Task Force to End Domestic Violence. Legal Momentum is a main member of this group. They work to make VAWA stronger each time it is updated.
- Legal Momentum also helped write the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. This law protects people from violence and threats when they are trying to get health services.
- Legal Momentum, along with 15 other groups, supports laws that protect transgender people from unfair treatment. They believe that protecting transgender people, including transgender women and girls, helps everyone achieve equality. They say that these protections do not harm cisgender women and girls.
Teaching and Education
Legal Momentum also teaches people about their rights and how to fight unfairness.
- The National Judicial Education Program (NJEP), started in 1980, creates training materials. These materials help judges learn about how gender bias can affect fairness in the justice system.
- Legal Momentum’s Rights Now! program works with young people, especially young women of color. It teaches them about gender-based violence and unfair treatment. It helps them become leaders and share what they learn with others in their communities.
- Legal Momentum’s Women Valued program works to protect the rights of groups who have not always been treated fairly by laws. This includes women of color, immigrant women, victims of gender-based violence, and women in low-wage jobs. They help these groups understand their rights and work for better laws.
About the Name
In 2004, the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund changed its name to Legal Momentum. This new name is shorter and better shows what the group does. It reflects how the organization has grown and what it continues to work on.
See also
