Hold Your Head High

It was 95 years ago today the Nineteenth Amendment, giving women the right to vote, was made law.  There are people alive today who lived when women couldn't vote (though not many remember it). It's pretty simple, as most good Amendments are.

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 always wonder what would happen if they didn't put in that last sentence. Wouldn't the Necessary and Proper Clause handle it?

In honor of this event, today is also Women's Equality Day, proclaimed by Congress in 1971.

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex;

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have designated August 26, the anniversary date of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, as symbol of the continued fight for equal rights: and

WHEREAS, the women of United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that August 26 of each year is designated as "Women's Equality Day," and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote, and that day in 1970, on which a nationwide demonstration for women's rights took place.

A little wordier and less poetic.

Then there's Go Topless Day, celebrated on the Sunday nearest Women's Equality Day (it was the 23rd this year). It was invented in 2007 and designed to promote equality.  Make of it what you will.