NOW Congratulates Massachusetts Primary Winner Martha Coakley, Looks Forward to Feminist Candidate Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling in January

The National Organization for Women congratulates Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley for her overwhelming victory in the Democratic primary in the special election to fill the late Ted Kennedy’s U.S. Senate seat. If Coakley prevails as expected in the Jan. 19 general election, she will be the first woman senator from the state of Massachusetts, and she will double to two the number of women in the state’s current 12-member congressional delegation. The NOW Political Action Committee proudly endorsed Coakley in her run.

NOW Applauds Passage of Landmark Hate Crimes Legislation

In a campaign promise fulfilled, President Obama signed the first significant pro-lesbian, pro-woman, pro-disability rights legislation today. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act expands the 1969 federal hate crimes law to include sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability.

In Memoriam: NOW Mourns Loss of Women’s Rights Champion Senator Ted Kennedy

The National Organization for Women is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy, the revered Democrat from Massachusetts. A dedicated public servant, Ted Kennedy was a champion of civil rights, women’s equality, voting rights, economic justice, disability rights, reproductive freedom and so much more.