Dear Colleagues,
On August 26th we celebrated Women’s Equality Day, commemorating the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. constitution in August of 1920, finally codifying women’s right to vote after more than 72 years of debate.
SHAITIA SPRUELL
But while we celebrate, we know we still have much further to go. For Black women, the 19th Amendment didn’t end their fight to vote. While many Black women did manage to vote in 1920, the Civil Rights Acts was necessary to further codify the voting rights of all women of color.
It reminds me that our commitment to gender and racial justice is intertwined. We do not lead single issue lives.
We draw inspiration from others working across the country to secure our rights and make our voices heard. The Vermont Women’s Commission (VWC) is fighting to pass Article 22, which would make Vermont the first state to explicitly protect reproductive rights in its constitution and pave the way for other states to follow in its footsteps.
They make a strong case:
“Bodily autonomy isn’t just the fight for our rights – it’s also a strong economic argument for policies that make our lives better. In states with access to reproductive rights, women’s incomes are almost 16% higher than the women’s national median wage, according to the Center for American Progress.“
As we prepare our own legislative priorities for 2022-2023, we draw on research and best practices being implemented by sister commissions and regional experts from across the Commonwealth – and across the country. With a shared mission to uplift women and girls, we can change our collective future, advocate for laws that secure the rights of each of us and maintain a commitment to equity for all.
In solidarity,
Shaitia Spruell
MCSW Executive Director