Blog
by Ashley Lidow on Jun 22, 2022
Extremist legislators have been working for decades to push abortion access out of reach. This includes forcing people to travel long distances, wait days between appointments, source childcare, and pay out of pocket without insurance coverage. We need policies that support people’s whole lives, including better access to hospitals and clinics, healthcare provided by people
Freedom from Violence, Gender Justice
by Melissa Moore on Jun 17, 2022
Happy Juneteenth to all our Black siblings! May your lives be filled with safety, care, love, celebration, liberation, joy, and reflection. The last enslaved people of African descent in the U.S. were freed on June 19, 1865, a full two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Yet, certain conditions of slavery are still
by Melissa Moore on Jun 17, 2022
I’m honored and humbled to announce my new position as Director of Organizing, a role that draws on my 15+ years of experience advancing gender justice in South Carolina. This is a brand new position at WREN that solidifies a commitment to growing our grassroots power! I started my career in 2005 as Executive Assistant
by Melissa Moore on Jun 2, 2022
Happy Pride, y’all! I’m proud to be a Genderqueer Raised In The South (GRITS), and I want to remind other GRITS, all the beautiful identities under the queer* umbrella, and all those who uplift our community that our existence is our RESISTANCE. I am blessed to make a living doing work that is deeply personal
by Ann Warner on May 26, 2022
Legislative Victories! Below are bills that were signed into law in South Carolina! Thanks to you, WREN has achieved two major legislative victories that will make South Carolina a healthier and more equitable state for women, gender-expansive people, and their families. Paid Family Leave for State Employees, making more than 55,000 state employees eligible for
May 12, 2022
Whew. The 124th session of the General Assembly has concluded. Despite an unrelenting onslaught of bills attacking our rights, we have achieved some monumental victories. During this legislative session, our network members took at least 70,000 advocacy actions! We are so proud of this incredible demonstration of our collective power. Here’s an overview of where
by Ashley Lidow on May 6, 2022
With only 3 more working days left in the legislative session, we are in the final push to support good policies to becoming law and pushing back against policies that hurt our community. Below are some updates and urgent actions that we need you to do and share with your networks. Sine Die in the
Economic Opportunity, Gender Justice, Health and Education, News, Policy Updates
by Ann Warner on May 3, 2022
WREN is outraged by the alleged draft majority opinion from the United States Supreme Court on the Mississippi abortion case that was leaked in the news on May 2nd. We condemn any decision by the Supreme Court that would threaten the rights to abortion care that have been the law of the land for 50 years.
Gender Justice, Health and Education, Policy Updates
by Ann Warner on May 2, 2022
The following Op-Ed appeared in the Post and Courier on Sunday May 1, 2022: In the past two years, the S.C. General Assembly has ushered in a wave of legislation that discriminates against people in the LGBTQ+ community. One of the most egregious examples of this is H.4608, the so-called “Save Women’s Sports Act,” which seeks
Gender Justice, Health and Education, News
by WREN Staff on Apr 27, 2022
SOUTH CAROLINA– Today, anti-abortion politicians in the House voted to pass a new medication abortion misinformation bill (H. 4568). In response, Ann Warner, CEO of the South Carolina Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN) has released the following statement: “This bill is the latest in anti-abortion politicians’ attack on our freedoms and health. If it
Now is the time to invest in South Carolina’s women, girls, and families. We need people like you joining the movement, speaking out, and leading the way toward positive change.