The following was originally posted on Boston.com's On Liberty blog by ACLUm Online Communications Coordinator Danielle Riendeau

As someone who cares deeply about women’s health--and has participated in races for breast cancer awareness that are affiliated with the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure--the news yesterday that the breast cancer charity announced it would stop funding Planned Parenthood for breast health services utterly shocked me, and I know I’m not the only one.

ACLU of Massachusetts communications director Christopher Ott wrote this guest blog.

The Obama administration announced today it will keep in place a proposed rule that says birth control is an essential service, and employer health insurance plans must cover birth control without a copay. This will ensure effective birth control is available for millions of women.

There's nothing like a victory for equal rights to restore my faith in human courage and basic decency. So I braved the cold in order to show up for Governor Deval Patrick's ceremonial and very public signing of the Transgender Equal Rights Law at the State House this morning.

It was standing-room-barely as Massachusetts luminaries and civil rights advocates gathered in the ornate Senate Reading Room to watch our Commonwealth take another important step forward for equal rights under the law.

One way that Republican presidential contenders could go after President Obama is by criticizing his record on civil liberties, such as his yet-to-be fulfilled pledge to close Guantanamo--but, with only a few exceptions (Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman), they can't, because their stance on indefinite detention without charge or trial is worse than the President's. ACLU of Massachusetts education director Nancy Murray wrote the following guest blog.