Latest news with #womensrights
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ida Lewis was once considered the bravest woman in America. Now she's being honored
NEWPORT – The late Idawalley (Ida) Zoradia Lewis was once considered the bravest woman in America and an icon of the women's rights movement, according to state Rep. Lauren H. Carson. Lewis, who died in 1911, called Newport her home, and this year, on Aug. 1, she will posthumously receive the Past Light Keeper Award from the National Lighthouse Museum in Staten Island, New York, at the museum's annual gala. Carson said she was approached by two locals who asked that the state officially honor Lewis. Carson also attended a memorial ceremony for Lewis on May 24 at Common Ground Burial Ground. 'Obviously, she is a woman who made a huge contribution to safety and the city of Newport,' Carson said during a recent interview.. 'After attending that event and hearing about her life and accomplishments, I thought it would be important that the (state) House of Representatives should honor her life.' The Newport Historical Society website has images of Lewis and artifacts connected to her work. According to the NHS website, Lewis, in 1857 and at 15, unofficially took over duties as keeper of the Lime Rock Lighthouse from her father, who had recently suffered a stroke at that time. A year later, she recorded her first rescue when she saved four teenage boys from drowning after they accidentally overturned a boat they were sailing, according to the NHS website. In 1869, she made a rescue that drew national attention when she saved two soldiers from drowning in their attempt to return to Fort Adams. The city honored her two years later during the Independence Day celebration and presented her with a rowboat named Rescue. Carson's resolution won't be the first one the Rhode Island General Assembly has bestowed upon Lewis. The state first recognized Lewis' heroism with a resolution in 1869 for her Fort Adams rescue. According to the NHS website, Lewis is credited with making eight rescues and was 64 during her last one, only five years before her death in 1911. In total, she guarded Newport Harbor for 50 years. She is the namesake of the USCGC Ida Lewis and Lewis Drive in Arlington National Cemetery. And despite her prominence, she tried to live a quiet life, according to the NHS. Her bravery paved a trail for women over the coming century and decades, according to Carson. 'Ida Lewis was a luminary of her time who proved how strong and brave a woman could be. She became an icon of the women's rights movement, and her memory will always serve as a point of pride for Newport,' Carson said. The Newport Historical Society, in collaboration with the U.S. Lighthouse Society, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary honored Lewis on May 24. The commemoration featured the placement of a bronze U.S. Lighthouse Service grave marker by the crew of the USCGC Ida Lewis. The U.S. Lighthouse Service, originating in 1789, was incorporated into the Coast Guard in 1939, according to a release from the NHS. "Ida Lewis was an ordinary person who, when faced with extraordinary circumstances, met the moment and showed that there is bravery in all of us,' said Rebecca Bertrand, executive director of the Newport Historical Society. 'Her story is very significant to Newport history. She was a lighthouse keeper who herself shines a light on why it is so important that people like her, their stories and the artifacts that capture them, are not lost to time," Rebecca Betrand, executive director of the Newport Historical Society. For a closer look at some of her artifacts, log on to This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: National Lighthouse Museum honors Ida Lewis with Past Light Keeper Award
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
NHS Fife nurse in gender tribunal meets MSPs at Holyrood
The nurse at the centre of a high-profile employment tribunal about single-sex spaces has told MSPs about the appalling ordeal she has endured just for standing up for women's rights. Sandie Peggie yesterday lifted the lid on the major impact the tribunal with NHS Fife has had on her life and career. The 50-year-old is said to have described the scale of 'discrimination and harassment' she has endured for speaking out about having to undress in front of transgender doctor Beth Upton at Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, who took part in the private talks alongside other Tory MSPs, said it is 'outrageous' that her career has been 'destroyed' and life consumed by a 'suffocating legal process'. Ms Peggie also met with Labour MSPs, the Alba Party's Ash Regan and the SNP's Michelle Thomson at the Scottish parliament. However, First Minister John Swinney and his deputy Kate Forbes declined an invite. Following the talks, Ms Peggie's solicitor Margaret Gribbon said: 'Politicians needed to hear directly from Sandie to understand how the sheer depth of the discrimination and harassment she and women like her have endured in workplaces – in her case, as a nurse with 30 years unblemished service, simply because she objected to having to undress in front of a man.' Mr Findlay, pictured, said: 'Sandie has paid a massive price for her brave and principled stand against the SNP government's promotion of gender politics which now infects Scotland's entire public sector.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Legislation to decriminalise abortion for women clears the Commons
Legislation which would see abortion decriminalised for women terminating their own pregnancies has cleared the Commons. MPs voted 312 to 95, majority 217 to approve the Crime and Policing Bill at third reading on Wednesday. This comes after the Commons backed Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi's amendment, which will remove the threat of 'investigation, arrest, prosecution or imprisonment' of any woman who acts in relation to her own pregnancy. The issue was treated as a matter of conscience, with MPs given a free vote and the Government remaining neutral. Downing Street said the change to abortion laws must be 'workable and safe', following Tuesday's verdict. MPs voted 379 to 137, majority 242, to back Ms Antoniazzi's amendment. A No 10 spokesman said: 'We'll look at this in detail, considering whether any changes are necessary to make it workable and safe. But, of course, this would not change the intent of the amendment passed.' The spokesman added: 'As with all laws, the Government has a responsibility to ensure it is safe and workable.' The Bill will now undergo further scrutiny in the House of Lords. It will also introduce a two-step verification process for the sale of knives and crossbows purchased online, and greater protections for emergency workers from racial and religious abuse during house calls are also included in the Bill. Speaking during report stage on Tuesday, Ms Antoniazzi said she pushed for the change in the law after cases of women being investigated by police over suspected illegal abortions. The Gower MP said: 'This is the right change at the right time. I implore colleagues who want to protect women and girls and abortion services to vote for new clause one. 'Let's ensure that not a single desperate woman ever again is subject to traumatic, criminal investigation at the worst moments in their lives.' Medics or others who facilitate an abortion after the 24-week time limit could still face prosecution if the change becomes law. Though the Government took a neutral stance on the vote, several Cabinet ministers were among the MPs who backed the amendment. They included Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, Defence Secretary John Healey, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, Environment Secretary Steve Reed, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, Scotland Secretary Ian Murray, Wales Secretary Jo Stevens and Commons Leader Lucy Powell. Kemi Badenoch and many members of the Conservative front bench voted against it but shadow education secretary Laura Trott voted in favour. Abortion in England and Wales currently remains a criminal offence unless with an authorised provider up to 24 weeks into a pregnancy, with very limited circumstances allowing one after this time, such as when the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability. It is also legal to take prescribed medication at home if a woman is under 10 weeks pregnant. Efforts to change the law to protect women from prosecution follow repeated calls to repeal sections of the 19th century law, the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, after abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland in 2019.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
SNP leaders ‘snubbed' nurse at centre of NHS trans row
SNP leaders have been accused of declining to meet a nurse at the centre of a tribunal about a trans doctor being allowed to use a female changing room. Sandie Peggie held talks with several MSPs ahead of her employment tribunal against NHS Fife, which resumes in Dundee next month. The nurse launched legal action after she was suspended for raising concerns over the use of a female changing room by Beth Upton, a trans doctor. Ms Peggie met with senior Tories including Russell Findlay, the party leader, and Alexander Stewart, the Mid Scotland and Fife MSP. The nurse also spoke with Labour politicians and Alba's Ash Regan, and was joined in Holyrood by campaigners fighting for single-sex spaces including Maya Forstater, of the gender-critical charity Sex Matters. According to The Courier, John Swinney, the First Minister, and his deputy Kate Forbes declined an invitation to meet Ms Peggie. Mr Findlay said it was a 'privilege' to meet Ms Peggie 'and to hear a first-hand account of her appalling ordeal'. He added: 'It is outrageous that a dedicated NHS nurse's career has been destroyed and her life consumed by a suffocating legal process simply because she stood up for women's rights. 'Sandie has paid a massive price for her brave and principled stand against the SNP Government's promotion of gender politics which now infects Scotland's entire public sector.' Mr Findlay also accused SNP leaders of declining to meet Ms Peggie 'because so many SNP politicians are still in the grip of these dangerous and damaging beliefs'. Ms Peggie, an A&E nurse at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, was suspended in January last year and subjected to a disciplinary investigation after she challenged Dr Upton for using a female changing room on Dec 24 2023. Dr Upton filed a complaint against Ms Peggie, accusing her of bullying and creating a hostile environment, and describing the encounter as a 'hate incident'. An employment tribunal hearing was adjourned in March after Ms Peggie's lawyer accused the health board of failing to comply with a request to disclose internal documents relevant to the case. It is scheduled to resume on July 16. 'Politicians need to hear from Sandie' Margaret Gribbon, Ms Peggie's solicitor, said: 'Politicians needed to hear directly from Sandie to understand how the sheer depth of the discrimination and harassment she and women like her have endured in workplaces – in her case, as a nurse with 30 years unblemished service, simply because she objected to having to undress in front of a man. 'We were grateful for the politicians' time and welcomed the opportunity to share insights into how misguided actions by public bodies such as NHS Fife have devastating real-life consequences and come at great expense to the Scottish taxpayer. 'We had productive meetings, and the door is always open for any politicians who were unable to meet Sandie today.' Ms Forstater said: 'It was important for politicians to hear directly from Sandie Peggie, given that Scottish public bodies, from NHS Fife right up to the Scottish Government itself, are continuing to delay policy changes following the Supreme Court judgement. 'We urged politicians to consider this as a matter of urgency, as the Supreme Court made crystal clear that organisations which allow men to identify their way into female facilities are operating outside the law.' A Scottish Government spokesman said no meeting between ministers and Ms Peggie took place, adding: 'It would be inappropriate to comment further while judicial proceedings in an employment tribunal are ongoing.'
Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Times
Change in law ‘opens door to DIY abortions'
Decriminalising abortion could lead to more terminations and may result in women being coerced into aborting their babies, some women's rights advocates have said. On Tuesday, MPs voted by a majority of 242 to change abortion legislation to stop women being prosecuted for ending their pregnancy at any stage of gestation. The landslide vote to decriminalise the procedure is the biggest change to abortion laws in England and Wales for nearly 60 years. Pro-choice groups had lobbied for the change in the law ALISHIA ABODUNDE/GETTY IMAGES Abortion in England and Wales is a criminal offence but it is legal with an authorised provider up to 24 weeks, and beyond this in very limited circumstances. It is also possible to take prescribed medication at home if a woman is fewer than ten weeks pregnant. However, the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 — which makes it illegal for women to end their own pregnancies — is to be amended so women will no longer be prosecuted for having an abortion outside the current rules.
