LULAC Asks When Will Women’s Equality Day Not Be Necessary Any Longer?
Nation’s Largest and Oldest Latino Civil Rights Organization Marks 101 Years of Women and Supporters Fighting for Gender Justice
Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today issued the following statement in recognition of this year’s Women’s Equality Day, officially marked Thursday, August 26th but delayed its release out of respect for the American servicemembers and civilians killed and wounded in Kabul, Afghanistan yesterday. The women of LULAC send their deepest condolences to the families of those whose lives were taken and for the injured.
Elsie Valdes-Ramos - LULAC National Board Member and Vice-President for Women
“We rejoice at Women’s Equality Day as an opportunity to create awareness about the vital issues of equality and equity for women in all walks of life throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Yet, we ask, why is there this one day instead of ensuring that women are respected and valued 365-days a year by the same criteria as men? Yes, we continue to celebrate the 19th Amendment, ratified on August 26, 1920, giving some women the right to vote, although blacks and Hispanics were excluded. That would come later. Also, it took another half-century before Congress officially ratified Women’s Equality Day in a joint resolution passed in 1971. So, while I take a great measure of pride at the achievements women are making in demanding and receiving our hard-earned recognition, change must come faster and more intentionally. We cannot and will not wait another 100 years for the full payment on the pledge of an America for all, irrespective of gender. This must happen now, every day and in every way.”
Sindy Benavides - LULAC National Chief Executive Officer
“Every day, I behold the blessing of being a woman at this time in our history for we are the souls of our families and the conscience of our culture, with the solemn duty of reminding others that true justice in our society must be gender blind. Women’s Equality Day is not a gift; rather, to me it represents the beginnings of what could be, if only our society genuinely and truly sought to honor and acknowledge that the place of women is wherever we, only we, choose it to be. No, this is not spoken with arrogance or aloofness but with justified impatience at its delay. Neither will we be apologetic nor seeking permission for what is rightfully ours. The claim for parity is not a request; it is a debt and America’s women shall not accept short shrift any longer. Our mothers and their mothers could only dream for us of better days in our lifetimes as they toiled every day. I will not only dream for my daughter’s future. I am doing for her with every breath and heartbeat so that there is no question. Her place shall be where she decides and in her lifetime Women’s Equality Day in our country will begin with every sunrise and last ‘til every sunset.”
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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services, and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting the critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/