Saturday, August 26, 2006

Happy Women's Equality Day

National NOW sent along this message today, which asks women and men to sign a petition in order to continue to advocate for women's equality.

NOW encourages you to celebrate and advocate in honor of Women's Equality Day! Sign our petition to prospective 2008 presidential candidates NOW or read on...

On August 26, 1920, after 72 years of lobbying and protest, women finally won the right to vote in the United States.

In 1971, the late, great Rep. Bella Abzug convinced Congress to designate Aug. 26 as Women's Equality Day. Women's lives have changed dramatically since 1920 and even since 1971. By organizing, voting, speaking out and demanding change, we have made incredible leaps in every arena. But, we still have a long way to go.

Tell the presidential candidates that...

Until women earn the same wages as men . . . until reproductive justice is assured . . . until racism and sexism and violence are eradicated . . . until lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender people have equal rights . . . until women are included in the U.S. Constitution . . . women's equality will not be realized.

While the 2008 presidential election might seem far off, the prospective candidate list is already filling out and the likely frontrunners aren't hard to spot. Today is not a day too soon to begin urging each potential candidate to make women's equality a major component of their campaign.

We cannot have another eight years of women's rights being pushed back, and our hard-earned progress stopped in its tracks by leaders dedicated only to their rich cronies and ultra-conservative backers.

Sign the petition!

We CAN make women's equality a reality by ensuring that it is a centerpiece of the 2008 elections. Let's start NOW by securing a commitment from the likely presidential candidates that they will address issues crucial to women and girls achieving their dreams.

By adding your name to our petition, you will lend strength and weight to this mission. Together, we will let candidates from all political parties know that if they want the women's vote -– they better speak to all of the issues important to both women and men.

You can help make our effort even stronger by forwarding this Women's Equality Day message to friends and family members. Do it NOW!