Celebrating "Women's Equality Day" 2011

On August 26, 1920, after a difficult 72-year-long battle, U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the 19th Amendment into law and women in the United States were allowed to vote.

In 1971, Congress designated August 26 National Women's Equality Day after passing a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Bella Abzug.

And just yesterday, in a proclamation published by the White House, President Obama stated, "I call upon the people of the United States to celebrate the achievements of women and recommit ourselves to the goal of gender equality in this country..."

"The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution tore down the last formal barrier to women's enfranchisement in our Nation and empowered America's women to have their voices heard in the halls of power."

"On the 91st anniversary of this landmark in civil rights, we continue to uphold the foundational American principles that we are all equal, and that each of us deserves a chance to pursue our dreams."

And although I believe there are still some areas where women are not treated equally, such as in the workplace, we have still come a long way and have a lot to celebrate.

So Happy "Women's Equality Day" to all!

More Acceptance of the GLBT Community in Utah??

I found this article today at the Salt Lake Tribune website, since I know there are quite a few lesbians that live or have lived in Utah, I thought you all might find this one interesting.

Poll: Support, acceptance of gays is growing in Utah

by Rosemary Winters
The Salt Lake Tribune

Most Utahns would be bothered to learn that their own child or grandchild is gay. But, by a large margin, they support protecting gay and transgender people from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.

That’s according to a poll released Thursday by the Human Rights Campaign, which kicks off a national bus tour in Salt Lake City on Friday to promote civil rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population.

Utahns have warmer feelings toward gay and lesbian people than they do toward President Barack Obama. (Gay and lesbian people received an average 51 points out of 100, and Obama received an average 38 points.)

Seventy percent of respondents said they know someone who is gay or lesbian. And 42 percent said their feelings about LGBT people have become more accepting over the last five to 10 years. (Seven percent said they have become less accepting.) Nearly 70 percent of men and 77 percent of women said they could be close friends with a gay or lesbian person. More than half, 55 percent, said they would be bothered "a great deal" to learn their child or grandchild is gay.

Utahns remain strongly opposed to gay marriage — 63 percent are opposed and 30 percent are in favor. They also are divided over allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt children (44 percent in favor and 48 percent opposed).

The issue of anti-gay discrimination has received heightened attention in Utah since 2009, when Salt Lake City approved ordinances that forbid housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity — and won a landmark endorsement from the LDS Church. Another 11 cities and counties adopted similar ordinances the following year. But the Utah Legislature has snubbed attempts to pass a statewide law.

More than three-fourths of Utahns (77 percent) support anti-discrimination protections, the poll found.

"Salt Lake City is a fitting place to kick off this [bus] tour as Utahns believe in fairness but the laws haven’t yet caught up with that reality," HRC President Joe Solmonese said in a statement. Solmonese will be at the Utah Pride Center on Friday to launch the 12-week tour, which mostly will stop at cities in the Midwest and South.

Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, commissioned by HRC, surveyed 400 Utah adults between Aug. 2 and 3. The poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points