In his nomination acceptance speech, Al Gore stressed his commitment to honor the rights of all Americans, and his obligation to issues vital to the civil rights of women and minorities. To overwhelming applause, Gore spoke of his stance on reproductive rights of women, and assertively stated, "And let there be no doubt: I will protect and defend a woman's right to choose. The last thing this country needs is a Supreme Court that overturns Roe v. Wade." Gore's record of supporting pro-choice legislature is strong with his co-sponsorship of the Freedom of Choice Act and his opposition to requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortions.
Gore also spoke to equal rights in the workplace, fighting for gay and lesbian rights and The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would explicitly prohibit job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Gore spoke of striving for pay equity and his commitment to raising minimum wage by $1 over the next two years, a change that would affect 10 million workers earning minimum wage-60 percent of whom are women. Gore also reaffirmed his commitment to affirmative action, an issue he has historically championed, opposing state and local efforts to end affirmative action.
Media Resources: NY Times; Women's eNews - August 18, 2000
5/22/2013 Immigration Reform Bill Advances In Senate - Last night, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a sweeping immigration reform bill in a bipartisan vote of 13 to 5. . . .
5/22/2013 Afghan Women Arrested for 'Moral Crimes' Increases 50% - A new report by the Human Rights Watch shows that in the past 18 months the number of women in Afghanistan incarcerated for 'moral crimes' has increased from 400 to 600, a 50% growth.
Many of the women imprisoned for moral crimes were arrested running away from forced or abusive marriages and families, even though there is no law against leaving. . . .
5/22/2013 Army Commander Suspended for Adultery Amid Wave of Sexual Assaults - On Tuesday, Brigadier General Bryan T Roberts was suspended from his position as commander of the Fort Jackson, South Carolina training camp which trains approximately 60% of incoming female recruits pending an investigation into allegations of adultery.
Roberts was suspended following allegations of "adultery and a physical altercation." Colonel Christian Kubik, an Army spokesperson for the Training and Doctrine Command, told reporters "We don't have any evidence of any sexual assault. . . .
