Women Leaders Launch TIME’S UP Campaign Promoting Equality

TIME’S UP, an unprecedented movement started by women in the entertainment industry, has launched the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund. A central hub supporting a wide range of initiatives aimed at promoting equality and safety in the workplace, TIME’S UP initiatives cover legislation, corporate policy, hiring practices and aggregating important resources, and is comprised of many working groups that focus on tackling these issues from various angles.

The TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund is one of a series of TIME’S UP’s ongoing commitments to combat the systemic power imbalances that have prohibited many women, especially women of color, from being safe and reaching their full potential in the workplace.

“Earning a living should not come at the cost of anyone’s safety, dignity or morale,” said Shonda Rhimes, television producer, screenwriter, and author. “Every person should get to work in an environment free from abuse, assault and discrimination. It’s well past time to change the culture of the environment where most of us spend the majority of our day — the work place. Fifty-one percent of our population is female, [and] over 30 percent of our population is of color. Those are important, vital, economically powerful voices that need to be heard at every level. TIME’S UP is working to make sure the people walking the corridors of power within the workplace and in politics truly reflect the full mix of America – the real America that looks like and includes all of us.  Look, this isn’t going to be easy but it is right.  And fighting for what is right can seem hard.  But letting what is wrong become normal is not easier — it is just more shameful.”

The Legal Defense Fund will help individuals who experience sexual misconduct including assault, abuse or harassment find legal representation; and will be housed at and administered by the National Women’s Law Center and participating attorneys will work with the Center’s Legal Network for Gender Equity to enable more individuals to come forward and secure legal assistance.

Prior to its formal launch, TIME’S UP raised more than $13 million from over 200 donors for The TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, to help to defray costs for lawyers and communications professionals from across the country to provide assistance to those who experience sexual harassment. Founding donors include Katie McGrath & J.J. Abrams, Jennifer Aniston, Shonda Rhimes, Meryl Streep, Reese Witherspoon, Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg’sWunderkinder Foundation, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), ICM Partners (ICM), Paradigm Talent Agency, United Talent Agency (UTA), and William Morris Endeavor (WME).

“The magnitude of the past few months highlights the fact that sexual harassment against women in the workplace is endemic and touches every industry,” said Tina Tchen, attorney and co-founder of TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund. “We are a community of women and men who can no longer stand idly by. This is the first of many concrete actions we will take. And we are thrilled to partner with Fatima Goss Graves and the National Women’s Law Center to assure the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund’s success.”

In mid-December, entertainment industry executives, independent experts and advisors came together to create the Commission on Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equality in the Workplace. Chaired by Anita Hill, the Commission will lead the entertainment industry toward alignment in achieving safer, fairer, more equitable and accountable workplaces—particularly for women and marginalized people.

“Our goal is to define a work environment where the basic principles of respect, human decency, and equality define the workplace everywhere,” said Kathleen Kennedy.

TIME’S UP has received the support and backing of numerous attorneys, activists, public relations professionals, companies, and celebrities, who all stand ready to help.