Woo Hoo! Great news (and not so great news)! Jennifer's Law passed The Senate in Connecticut in a landslide 35-1 vote!
Jennifer's Law is named after two Jennifers, Jennifer Dulos and Jennifer Magnano who were murdered by their spouse and ex-spouse after ongoing use of coercive control by their killers.
Unfortunately, Jennifer's Law has been absorbed into a larger domestic violence proposal known as SB 1091, and many consider this an insult to the women who lost their lives and the families they leave behind.
Rachel Wood, along with dozens of other victims and survivors of coercive control testified in support of Jennifer's Law. In a statement, Woods said, “Domestic violence survivors risked retaliation and harm to testify in support of Jennifers’ Law. Some even testified from hiding because telling their stories creates real danger. We call on legislators to honor all victims of domestic violence, including those who have not survived, by retaining the name of this legislation.”
I am grateful that coercive control laws are being proposed and passed in the US, but I am also deeply saddened by the minimization of women's value in our country and worldwide. Removing the name Jennifer's Law from the legislation says a lot about how sexism and patriarchy still predominate... even in 2021!
