Archive for the 'The National Partnership' Category

Violence Against Women Should Not be a Partisan Issue

Published on July 23, 2012 in The National Partnership. 0 Comments

HERvotes Groups Rally for VAWA

Women’s groups in the HERvotes coalition rallied in the blogosphere last week to call for the extension of the Violence Against Women Act’s lifesaving programs and services for another five years. The U.S. Senate has already reauthorized the bill with bipartisan support, but key provisions addressing safety on campuses and protections for LGBT, immigrant and Native American survivors of violence were removed in a version passed by the House of Representatives.

As Feminist Majority Foundation Vice President and General Counsel Kim Gandy writes, “Eliminating violence against women is not… must not… be a partisan issue.”

It’s time for the House to join the Senate in fully reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.

Read all of the HERvotes blogs on the very real problem of violence against women in this country and the critical need for reauthorization here.

AIDS Memorial Quilt Month-Long Display Begins Saturday

Published on July 20, 2012 in The National Partnership. 0 Comments

AIDS Quilt Comes to D.C.

Starting this weekend, those in the Washington, D.C. area have a rare chance to view a powerful and poignant reminder of the impact of HIV/AIDS.  The AIDS Memorial Quilt is returning to the city after more than 15 years. The event marks its 25th anniversary.

The iconic quilt was first displayed in October of 1987 at the National March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights. Then just 40 panels, the quilt was the project of a group of friends, family members and loved ones who wanted to memorialize those lost to AIDS. After that inspiring first display, the quilt grew rapidly. As it travelled around the country, people added their own hand-sewn squares with the names of family members and loved ones. A reading of the names on the quilt soon became part of the tradition.

The quilt now contains 48,000 panels and is too big to be displayed all at once. Instead, for this special event, it will be shown in segments at more than 50 locations throughout the area through July 25th. The opening ceremony is this Saturday, July 21st, at 9:00am on the National Mall.

Viewing the quilt is an opportunity to honor and celebrate those who have died from AIDS and to strengthen efforts to eradicate a disease that devastates millions of families worldwide. To learn more about the quilt and the events in the city, check out the links below: