Happy Birthday to Equality!

Today is the 85th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment that gave women the right to vote. In 1971, the U.S. Congress designated this date as “Women’s Equality Day” in recognition of women’s right to vote, which was achieved in 1920. I suggest everyone have a moment to celebrate this important anniversary. I think drinks are in order.

House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi, released this statement today:

Today, 85 years after women finally obtained the right to vote, we celebrate the successes of the women's suffrage movement and the continuing fight for equality, the opening of doors, and the smashing of glass ceilings.

But we must stand sentry over our civil rights, never forgetting the hard-won fight to obtain them, and continuing to work for the rights and equality of our sisters around the world.

...Former Congresswoman Bella Abzug established Women's Equality Day in 1971 so that we would always remember our past while looking toward the next possibilities for progress. On this anniversary, let us honor her legacy and recommit ourselves to continue to open the doors and fuel the hopes for women of the next generation and beyond.

Amen sister.

Although we celebrate the rights that we have gained, one move towards progress that has fallen by the wayside is the Equal Rights Amendment. The text of the amendment simply states: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."

Seems pretty straightforward and simple to me. One of my favorite arguments against the ERA was that we would all be forced to have co-ed bathrooms. Seriously, this was apparantly a compelling argument. My friend JR's mother was terrified at the prospect.

Congrats to Montana for having an Equal Rights Amendment in its state constitution.

“The dignity of the human being is inviolable. No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws. Neither the state nor any person, firm, corporation, or institution shall discriminate against any person in the exercise of his civil or political rights on account of race, color, sex, culture, social origin, or condition, or political or religious ideas.” Montana Constitution, Article II, §4 (1973).