“Democratic Women Celebrate Equality”

Tallahassee, Florida – On Sunday, August 26th, women across Florida will celebrate “Women’s Equality Day”. Democratic Women’s Club of Florida President Janet Goen announced that, “Club members throughout the state are planning community celebrations of the anniversary of women’s suffrage.” DWCF State Communications Chair Rachel Pienta, who is scheduled to speak at Women’s Equality Day festivities in Tallahassee, said, “In 2012, we’re seeing efforts to undermine women’s vote. We’re less than a decade from celebrating 100 years of the women’s vote but efforts to suppress voting make it more important than ever to be sure all women are registered and use their hard won right to vote in every election.” Dr. Maureen McKenna, DWCF first vice president, explained the origins of Equality Day, “The amazing Bella Abzug, the congresswoman from New York, asked the U.S. Congress to designate August 26 as a national Women’s Equality Day to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.” 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. 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 passage 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 For more information about the Democratic Women’s Club of Florida, Inc. please visit http://www.democratic-women.org/ or on Facebook. ###