Jane Sullivan Roberts' Service to Women
Jane Sullivan Roberts currently serves as legal counsel to Feminists
for Life of America (FFLA) on a pro bono basis. From 1995 to 1999 she
served as Executive Vice President on the Board of Directors of FFL. Serrin
Foster, President of FFL, said, “Jane is a brilliant attorney. We
are very proud of her and appreciative of her service to Feminists for
Life and women and children.” Ms. Roberts is married to John G. Roberts, Jr. Established in 1972, Feminists for Life is a nonsectarian, nonpartisan,
grassroots organization that seeks real solutions to the challenges women
face. FFL's efforts are shaped by the core feminist values of nondiscrimination,
nonviolence, and justice for all. FFL continues the tradition of early
American feminists such as Susan B. Anthony who sought to address the
root causes that drive women to abortion. In 1998, Ms. Roberts prepared an affidavit for Serrin Foster in
support of a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf
of teenage mothers in Kentucky who were denied membership in the National
Honor Society. Ms. Roberts submitted the affidavit on behalf of FFL, who
agreed with the ACLU that the Grant County, Kentucky, school system had
discriminated against the two students, violating Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972, the state and federal constitutions, and the Kentucky
Civil Rights Act. The case was successfully decided in support of the two students. The
court ruled the two young women must be admitted to the National Honor
Society. During Ms. Roberts' term on the Board, FFL focused on passing the Violence
Against Women Act, enhancing child support enforcement, and fighting child
exclusion provisions in welfare reform. Inspired by the story of another
board member who had become pregnant in college, FFL began to focus on
advocating housing, child care, maternity coverage and telecommuting for
pregnant and parenting students. Actress Patricia Heaton, two-time Emmy award winner for her role as Debra
in "Everybody Loves Raymond," serves as Honorary Chair of FFL. Margaret
Colin, a stage and screen actress whose movie credits include "Independence
Day," Three Men and a Baby," and the made-for-TV movie "Swing
Vote," serves as Honorary Co-Chair. “Abortion is a reflection that our society has failed to meet the
needs of women. Women deserve better than abortion,” says Serrin
Foster. FFL is dedicated to systematically eliminating the root causes
that drive women to abortion—primarily lack of practical resources
and support—through holistic, woman-centered solutions. See related news stories and more about Feminists for Life's record of pro-woman accomplishments during Jane's tenure. Learn what we mean by our trademarked slogans "REFUSE TO CHOOSE" and "WOMEN DESERVE BETTER." |