Your daily dose of civil rights and related news

The House of Representatives just passed a gender pay equity law, responding (I presume) to the widely derided Ledbetter decision of last year.

The Montgomery County police union is blocking the placement of audio recording devices in squad cars — a key step in enacted accountability for cops (not to mention protecting them against bogus charges of abuse).

Gay couples are thrilled that Massachusetts has lifted the last barrier to gay marriages in its state.

Colorado prosecutors are treating the recent murder of a transgender woman as a hate crime.

The Boston Globe editorializes against inhumane practices foisted upon illegal immigrant woman who are pregnant or just recently gave birth.

UT-Brownsville has staved off an attempt by the border patrol to erect a fence slicing through the middle of their campus.

Election law experts are very nervous about voter suppression tactics being directed at Black voters.

Texas is number one when it comes to sexual abuse in its juvenile justice system.

The ICE self-deportation plan continues to shine: now they say they want to use ankle bracelets to track the volunteers.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney: “Let’s Call ‘Sex Tourism’ What It Really Is: Slavery.”

California unlawfully and involuntarily transfers some of its prisoners to out-of-state facilities.

New Mexico district court rules against the retaliation claim of two people who Wal-Mart refused to hire, allegedly because their parent had previously filed a discrimination charge against the company. The case is EEOC v. Wal-Mart.

Grand Junction, Colorado residents can file civil rights claims again. The satellite office of the state’s civil rights division, previously closed due to budget cuts, has been reopened.

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) continues to show leadership on voter reenfranchisement, but more work remains to be done in the Sunshine State.

A police officer pulled over a legal immigrant, accused him of operating a commercial vehicle without a license because it had a ladder on top of it (he was painting his house with some friends), and then “unleashed a torrent of profanity-laced, anti-immigrant abuse.” Unsurprisingly, the man is suing.

The “race card” flap between McCain and Obama has unintentionally put McCain’s new support for the Arizona anti-affirmative action initiative back in the public eye.