Mass NOW is the Massachusetts chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), one of the largest feminist advocacy networks in the United States. Founded in 1968, Mass NOW promotes left-of-center policies on reproductive rights, racial justice, economic equality, and LGBT interests. It engages in community organizing, coalition partnerships, public campaigns, and lobbying at the Massachusetts State House. The group describes its mission as advancing “intersectional feminist change” throughout the Commonwealth and consists of three arms: Mass Now Inc., the group’s lobbying arm; Mass Now Foundation, the group’s educational and organizing arm; and Mass NOW PAC, the group’s political campaign funding arm. ^{1 2}

Legislative Advocacy

Mass NOW’s top priority is advocating left-of-center legislation on gender issues, with a focus on abortion, LGBT issues, and access to feminine hygiene products at no cost to users in public schools and prisons. In the 193rd Massachusetts legislative session (2023-24), the group claimed victories including the “Momnibus” bill expanding maternity and postpartum health care, legal recognition of LGBT families through the Massachusetts Parentage Act, and the creation of a nonbinary “X” gender marker on state IDs. Other bills it supported included paid pregnancy loss leave, expanded midwifery and out-of-hospital birth, mandated pay scale disclosure by employers, and permission for political campaign funds to be used for child care. It also backed access to pharmacist-prescribed contraceptives and insurance coverage for postpartum depression screenings. ^{3 4}

In earlier sessions, Mass NOW endorsed the ROE Act expanding abortion access and enacting protections for abortion providers and recipients after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, as well as the Work and Family Mobility Act granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. It also supported the Healthy Youth Act for comprehensive sex education, Common Start for universal child care, and legislation banning so-called “conversion therapy” for LGBT minors and female genital mutilation. ^{4 4}

For the 194th session (2025-26), Mass NOW’s agenda included bills to expand health-care availability for immigrant children, create energy assistance for low-income households during extreme heat, mandate salary range disclosure, expand child-care vouchers to informal caregivers, and further protect abortion access and gender-reassignment surgeries. ^{3 3}

Coalition Partners

Mass NOW works through partnerships with left-of-center coalitions. It is a member of the Massachusetts Menstrual Equity Coalition and collaborates with groups such as Mujeres and Menstruators United to push for legislation providing for no-cost tampons and other feminine hygiene products. The organization also partners with immigrant-activist, reproductive-justice, labor union, and LGBT advocacy groups on bills ranging from abortion protections to paid family leave. Its coalition work often positions Massachusetts as a national leader in advancing feminist and left-of-center policy goals. ⁵

Programs and Campaigns

Mass NOW’s most prominent program is Bleeding for Change, a menstrual equity initiative funded with a five-year, $947,485 grant from the Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Fund. The program focuses on communities such as Fall River and New Bedford, working with over 30 local partners and state agencies. ⁶

Leadership

Mass NOW is governed by a volunteer board elected at its state conference. Its president as of 2025 was Naitasia Hensey, an attorney focused on left-wing legal advocacy. Executive director Alessandra Goodfriend oversees campaigns, coalition partnerships, and strategic planning, and is the group’s public representative. ^{7 8}

1. Our History. MassNOW. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.massnow.org/our-history
2. Donate. MassNOW. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.massnow.org/donate
3. Priority Bills. MassNOW. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.massnow.org/priority-bills
4. Previous Legislative Sessions. MassNOW. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.massnow.org/previous-legislative-sessions
5. Community Partners. MassNOW. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.massnow.org/community-partners
6. “MassNOW Awarded $947,485 Grant for Menstrual Equity Initiative.” MassNOW. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.massnow.org/news/mass-now-awarded-947485-grant-for-menstrual-equity-initiative
7. Board. MassNOW. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.massnow.org/board
8. Staff. MassNOW. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.massnow.org/staff