A Call to Action on Women's Equality Day

August 26, 2006

Celebrate and advocate in honor of Women's Equality Day!

Sign a petition demanding that the prospective 2008 presidential candidates stand up for women and girls. We need their leadership to end discrimination against women and restore women's rights by speaking out and supporting initiatives and policies that promote health, safety and opportunity for all of our nation's girls, women and families, not just the privileged few.

Sign the petition now!

On August 26, 1920, after 72 years of lobbying and protest, women finally won the right to vote in the United States.

In 1971, the late, great Rep. Bella Abzug convinced Congress to designate Aug. 26 as Women's Equality Day. Women's lives have changed dramatically since 1920 and even since 1971. By organizing, voting, speaking out and demanding change, women have made incredible leaps in every arena. Women's and girls' choices now seem limitless. But, we still have a long way to go.

Until women earn the same wages as men . . . until reproductive justice is assured . . . until racism and sexism and violence are eradicated . . . until lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender people have equal rights . . . until women are included in the U.S. Constitution . . . women's equality will not be realized.

While the 2008 presidential election might seem far off, the prospective candidate list is already filling out and the likely frontrunners aren't hard to spot. Today is not a day too soon to begin urging each potential candidate to make women's equality a major component of their campaign.

Sign the petition now!

We cannot have another eight years of women's rights being pushed back, our hard-earned progress stopped in its tracks by leaders dedicated only to their rich cronies and ultra-conservative backers.

We CAN make women's equality a reality by ensuring that it is a centerpiece of the 2008 elections. Let's start NOW by securing a commitment from the likely presidential candidates that they will address issues crucial to women and girls achieving their dreams.

Join us in petitioning these leaders to bring women's voices, concerns and goals to the table in their campaigns and platforms.

Sign the petition now!

We will deliver your petition, along with tens of thousands of others, to prospective 2008 presidential candidates. As new potential candidates emerge, we will add them to our list and send copies of the petition to their offices as well.

By adding your name to the petition, you will lend strength and weight to this mission. Together, we will let candidates from all political parties know that if they want the women's vote—they better speak to all of the issues important to both women and men.

You can help make our effort even stronger by sending this page to friends and family members. Do it NOW!