Women’s Equality Day
Sample Women’s Equality Day Proclamation
Many of you have asked about a Women’s Equality Day Resolution for your city council, community group, government agency, workplace or military base. Please feel free to edit the following one to meet your needs and propose it wherever it might make a difference. Then let us know when it is adopted.
Resolution to Recognize
Women’s Equality Day as a National Day of Celebration
WHEREAS, women in the United States have continuously worked to gain full rights and privileges – public or private, legal or institutional – as citizens of the United States, and
WHEREAS, women in every state and every cultural and religious group* worked to secure women’s right to vote, and
WHEREAS, Congress has designated August 26, the date the Nineteenth Amendment was certified, as Women’s Equality Day, and
WHEREAS, recognizing Women’s Equality Day as a day of celebration throughout the country emphasizes the importance of women’s work for democracy,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the (name of body) will commemorate Women’s Equality Day, August 26th, as a national day celebrating the importance of the women’s suffrage movement and the work to secure and expand equal rights today.
To be signed by an elected official or commanding officer.
*You might want to add specific names of suffragists in your city, county, state, profession or organization.
The History of Women’s Equality Day
At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 and passed in 1973, the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.” The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York. The observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality. Workplaces, libraries, organizations, and public facilities now participate with Women’s Equality Day programs, displays, video showings, or other activities.
Joint Resolution of Congress, 1971 Designating August 26 of each year as Women’s Equality Day
WHEREAS, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States;
and WHEREAS, the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex;
and WHEREAS, the women of the United States have designated August 26, the anniversary date of the certification of the Nineteenth Amendment, as symbol of the continued fight for equal rights;
and WHEREAS, the women of United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that August 26th of each year is designated as Women’s Equality Day, and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote, and that day in 1970, on which a nationwide demonstration for women’s rights took place.
How Women Won The Vote Gazette volume 1 (downloadable)
How Women Won the Vote Gazette volume 2 (downloadable)
Additional Print & Online Woman Suffrage Resources
