Today is Women’s Equality Day, which marks the 106th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment — the moment when some women were finally granted the opportunity to vote.
I say some women because it’s important to remember that the 19th Amendment was nowhere near perfect. Black women and other communities of color were not treated the same as their white peers, and many were unable to cast ballots until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
That’s why, since the beginning of my advocacy work, I have strived to understand our nation’s past so that we do not repeat it. All through my undergraduate years at the University of Central Florida and well into my professional career, I have made it my mission to build on the past rather than repeat it — meaning we do better than those who came before us, and acknowledge the progress we’ve made while still admitting there is more work to be done.
Let’s think about the status of women today. Not only have we seen the rise of misogyny through social media influencers, but we’ve also borne witness to politicians who pull us further back in time. From abortion bans to restrictions on contraception and IVF, to the defunding of programs women rely on, to the complete neglect of women and families through not passing policies like universal childcare, equal pay for equal work, and domestic violence prevention.
I was recently asked by a local media outlet which politicians or community leaders I admire most, and what immediately came to mind were the women here in Orlando who have created paths for the rest of us, including some who are no longer with us. That list of remarkable women includes the Honorable Linda Chapin, Glenda Hood, Patty Sheehan, Johanna López, Val Demings, Mary I. Johnson, Mable Butler, Geraldine Thompson — and so many more.
Right here in Central Florida, there are so many women to admire and be inspired by. And then there are the women who are up-and-coming, many of them on my team, whom I am grateful to call peers and friends.
It’s essential that, on this Women’s Equality Day, we move forward in unison — and look toward a brighter future where no one is left behind.
Onward,
