News & Commentary
Abortion Rights Under Attack in Montana
Three bills that would ban abortion are still moving through the Montana legislature. The bans in these bills span the pregnancy timeline, showing that the true intent behind all of this legislation is to eliminate abortion as an option for Montana women. Two bills would ban abortion later in pregnancy (one at 20 weeks and another at "near-viability"); the third bill would prohibit not only abortion from all stages of pregnancy but also birth control, emergency treatment for ectopic pregnancies, and more. The scattershot approach and blatant unconstitutionality of all three measures demonstrates supporters’ desire to get anything passed that will make progress toward the ultimate goal of eliminating a woman’s right to determine the course of her own pregnancy.
By Caitlin Borgmann
Imaginary Threats, Real People – Personal Reflections on a Political Trend
By Alena Lovi-Borgmann, Interim Communications Coordinator, who has been supporting the ACLU’s legislative work during this session.
Guest Post: Criminal Justice Reform Advances in Montana Legislature
Cynthia Wolken (D) is the Montana State Senator for Senate District 48. She is sponsoring a package of bills this session aimed at criminal justice reform.
HB 609 Threatens Transgender Montanans
Anti-gay extremists are stirring up completely unfounded fears about safety and privacy to justify discrimination against transgender Montanans. This is about more than just bathrooms; bills like HB 609 threaten the safety and dignity of the LGBT community and have no place in Montana.
The ACLU Is David to the U.S. Government’s Goliath
The outpouring of support for the ACLU since the election has been tremendous. Both in Montana and nationally, membership numbers are way up. But don’t let that lull you into a sense of complacency. Here in Montana, we still need every supporter!
By Kileen Marshall
The 2017 Jeannette Rankin Civil Liberties Award Reception
On Saturday, March 4, over 120 people gathered at the Holter Museum of Art in Helena to celebrate the work of Shahid Haque-Hausrath, the award recipient. The reception was a much-needed break from news of Trump's impending Muslim Ban 2.0. Caitlin Borgmann, Judge Jeffrey Sherlock, and Wilmot Collins shared a few words about Shahid and the importance of his work. Shahid also gave a moving speech that reminded us of what is at stake the next four years. Below are some pictures from the event.
Shahid Haque-Hausrath's Speech at the Rankin Award Reception
Shahid Haque-Hausrath was the 2017 Jeannette Rankin Civil Liberties Award recipient. Below is the speech he gave at the award reception on March 4:
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