SEATTLE -- Today is Equal Pay Day, which represents how long into 2021 a woman would have to work in order to earn what a man did, on average, in 2020.

The marker highlights the pay gap that persists for women.

Gabriela Quintana, advocacy director for the Seattle-based Economic Opportunity Institute, said women of color achieve equal pay with white men even later in the year.

"We mask it by clumping us all together," Quintana pointed out. "But the reality of it is that women of color are still way behind white women."

Black women's Equal Pay Day is August 3. For Native American women it's Sep. 8, and for Latina women it's Oct. 21 this year.

Women are paid about 82 cents on average for every dollar men make. But the gap is even larger in Washington state, where women make about 78 cents for every dollar men make.

Quintana acknowledged state lawmakers have tried to close the pay gap with blanket policies for all women, such as preventing employers from asking prospective employees about their salary history.

But she believes there are better approaches.

"So I think that we need to look at targeted policies that really are goal-oriented," Quintana suggested. "Which means starting to look at data and really seeing where the big gaps are, where the big problems are."

She said other policies like overtime pay, paid family and medical leave, and paid sick leave also are important for addressing the pay gap.

The pandemic has been especially hard on women, as they are often primary caregivers for children and with schools closed, they've had to juggle kids and jobs.

But women also are falling out of the job market faster than men. A December report found 154,000 job losses - and all of them were women of color.

Quintana isn't surprised.

"COVID has really exposed that," Quintana remarked. "In that it has been women, and it has been Brown women, who have been impacted the most during COVID."

Women surveyed about why they stayed in an abusive relationship often said they did not have the money to leave.

Now, a bill introduced in the New Mexico Legislature is aimed to help them.

Rep. Pamelya Herndon, D-Albuquerque, sponsor of House Bill 57, said it would have the court determine whether an abuse survivor is indigent and cannot pay for legal help. If so, the court would assign a lawyer to represent them.

When she's not at the Roundhouse, Herndon runs a nonprofit law center.

"I come in contact with far too many individuals who are facing situations where they are trying to get custody of their children, they're trying to make sure there's funds for their children or housing, for that matter," Herndon reported. "I see it too many times on a regular basis."

Relationship abuse, which is estimated to affect one in three American women, often includes being stripped of financial resources. Herndon noted those without money for an attorney are often forced to represent themselves in court, which she added is rarely successful if the partner in the abusive relationship can afford professional services.

Herndon said her bill is modeled after similar legislation in New York state.

"I know New Mexico is not New York but we have some of the highest rates of domestic violence in the entire country," Herndon stressed. "Too many people are not represented who should be, to make sure they have access to justice."

Data from Women Against Abuse shows Oklahoma had the highest rate of violence against women in 2024, followed by Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada and Alaska. And a United Nations report from last year showed 140 women and girls each day were killed by an intimate partner or family member.


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In 2019, Colorado lawmakers set goals for cutting climate pollution by at least half by the year 2030, and by 90% by 2050 - compared with 2005 levels.

Sen. Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, said Colorado is not making enough progress, so she's introduced a new bill that aims to cut fossil fuel emissions by giving Coloradans more transportation options. Winter said when people have safe and reliable alternatives, and leave their car at home, everyone benefits.

"And even if you are a person that never wants to get on a bus - or a train, or ride an e-bike - when others have that easy choice, and make that choice, it reduces congestion and traffic for you," she explained.

In addition to helping address the effects of a changing climate, Winter says SB25-030 would also benefit public health. The transportation sector and oil and gas production are the biggest contributors to dangerous and persistent ground-level ozone pollution across the Front Range.

Winter has also introduced SB25-004, a bill to help more Colorado families access child care by limiting application, waiting list, and other fees. She contends that good child care policies can help families, in part by ensuring that both parents have an opportunity to build careers.

"The children are more likely to be ready for kindergarten, and they are more likely to do well in school and make more money once they graduate as well," she continued.

For the first time in state history, the majority of Colorado lawmakers in the 2025 session are women. Winter, who has served in the legislature since 2015, believes democracy works best when it includes a rich assortment of legislators that bring their best problem-solving skills to the table.

"So being at 525 women means that more ideas are going to be at the table, more backgrounds, more experiences. And that leads to better solutions, versus governments that look more homogenous."


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A lack of reliable transportation for some women veterans in Maine is preventing them from getting the services they need.

The Sisters in Arms Center in Augusta provides these homeless veterans with counseling to heal from the sexual abuse some have suffered in the military.

It's the only center of its kind in the U.S. - but without a vehicle, medical or job interview appointments are often missed.

Executive Director Rebecca Cornell du Houx said one veteran was recently stranded at the hospital when no volunteer drivers were available.

"They're in the parking lot just crying," said Cornell du Houx, "because they can't go from point A to point B, and they had already walked there."

Cornell du Houx said public transportation is limited and can sometimes trigger a veteran's trauma.

She said the Sisters in Arms Center is seeking a donated vehicle, or funds to purchase one to help ensure these women veterans can get back on their feet.

While the number of homeless veterans is down slightly, the number of homeless veterans who are women grew by nearly 24% between 2020 and 2023.

Experts say the high rates of sexual abuse they suffer is one reason. One in three female servicemembers says they experienced sexual trauma while enlisted.

Cornell du Houx said this also puts the women the center serves at a heightened risk for suicide.

"They have tried so hard in order to be able to make a life for themselves through serving this country - and put their country first, put their community, their state first," said Cornell du Houx. "I mean, it doesn't seem like that's happening right now in reverse."

She said local volunteers showered a veteran and her children with gifts during the holiday, and she appreciated those who support the center's mission.

She said she'll soon deploy to the Middle East herself, and said hopes to hire some part-time staff to keep the center open while she's away.





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