March 2021: Women's History Month

WHEREAS, the 2021 national theme for Women's History Month is Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced, marking the 101st anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; and,

 

WHEREAS, Michigan was once home to prominent suffragists such as Sojourner Truth, Anna Howard Shaw, Clara Arthur, and Lucia Voorhees Grimes; and,

 

WHEREAS, Michigan civil rights leaders have continued the work to ensure access to voting rights for all Americans, including passage of the federal Voting Rights Act, and continue to fight racial discrimination in voting laws, policies, and procedures; and,
 

WHEREAS, we honor women from the suffrage movement, as well as women who have fought against poll taxes, voter roll purges, and other more contemporary forms of voter suppression to ensure voting rights for all; and,

 

WHEREAS, Michigan women bring a diversity of lived experiences and expertise to all aspects of civic, economic, cultural, and social development throughout our state; and,

 

WHEREAS, there is a historic number of women serving in the Legislature and across the state government, and women make up more than 50 percent of the population, 56 percent of our state's labor force, 12 percent of senior leadership in Michigan's businesses, and serve as leaders in our communities, continuing to break historic barriers; and,

 

WHEREAS, Michigan succeeds when women are able to stand in their truths and lead with their authentic selves; and,

 

WHEREAS, Michigan women continue to break barriers, shatter ceilings, build ladders, connect bridges, and make history in seen and unseen ways every single day;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim March 2021 as Women's History Month in Michigan to recognize and celebrate the strides and accomplishments of the women of Michigan and to support their continued efforts for parity.