August 26 is Women’s Equality Day, the anniversary of the certification of the 19th amendment which guaranteed women the right to vote.
The League of Women Voters of South Central Texas is new to Fayette County but has deep roots in the women’s suffrage movement that helped get women the right to vote over 100 years ago. “Our League, one of the newest in Texas, began in 2018 with five members meeting around my kitchen table,” said Janis Richardson, president of the League of Women Voters of South Central Texas. When asked about why she helped start a League in our area, Richardson said that she first got to know the League in Memphis, TN, where she lived before returning to her family roots in Texas. “I saw how the League makes government more accessible to the people – providing nonpartisan information on candidates, voting and how things work in ways that make it easier for people to fully participate in the decisions that affect them,” said Richardson. “I believe that the League provides an important service to the community – helping to bridge the information gap between government and voters. When I saw that our rural Texas area did not have a League, I decided to try to get one started so that local citizens could have access to the services that Leagues provide.
The League of Women Voters is a grassroots, nonpartisan group and one of America’s oldest and most trusted civic nonprofit organizations that have been fighting since 1920 to improve government and engage all voters in the decisions that impact their lives. Today that are 35 local Leagues in Texas and more than 800 nationwide – all working toward the shared vision of a democracy where a person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate. All Leagues commit to being nonpartisan, meaning that they never support or oppose candidates or political parties at any level of government. The South Central Texas chapter began in Lavaca County but now serves a five-county area that includes Lavaca, De-Witt, Gonzales, Fayette, and Colorado counties. “Our League just crossed an important milestone. We now have more than 50 members from four of our five counties, “said Richardson. “Each year has brought new possibilities and challenges, with great energy now that we have outgrown kitchen tables and are building teams in each county.” The League is kicking off its Fall activities by celebrating Women’s Equality Day on August 26. the day designated by Congress in 1971 to commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment. The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote and reads: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
“I didn’t know about Women’s Equality Day until I became active in the League,” said Richardson. “I love sharing that of the three generations of women who worked for more than 70 years to secure the right to vote for women. I appreciate the thousands of determined women who got this done. I am sure that there were women right here in South Central Texas who were involved in this movement and am sorry that over time, their stories have been lost. Celebrating their work by calling attention to Women’s Equality Day is just one way we can thank them.
Today, Women’s Equality Day is a time to remember that history and to call attention to women’s continuing efforts to achieve full equality. Richardson said that this year, the League is reminding people that the Equal Rights Amendment has not yet crossed the finish line and that the final step depends on a vote in the United States Senate.
In January 2020, the final state voted to ratify the ERA. Now Congress must act to remove its ratification timeline so it can pass once and for all. In March of 2021, the House of Representatives voted to remove the ratification timeline, but the Senate has not yet acted on this issue.
Richardson says that those interested in the Equal Rights Amendment can contact their Senators to encourage them to act on this issue.
The League of Women Voters of Central Texas invites men and women aged sixteen and older to join and also has many other volunteering opportunities throughout the year. From being a part of their Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup Program, numerous presentations to other organizations, or handing out their informative printed Voters Guide which includes nonpartisan information on candidates on the ballot for the November 8, 2022, election.
For more information or to join visit
www.lwvsouthcentraltx.org.
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