Celebrating Michigan women: Gov. Whitmer proclaims August 26 as Women’s Equality Day

Very demure, very mindful, very about equality—that’s Michigan women.

Michigan was one of the first three states to pass the 19th Amendment in 1919, allowing women the right to vote and has been called home by several notable suffragettes—including Sojourner Truth, Anna Howard Shaw, Clara Arthur, and Lucia Voorhees Grimes. 

Today, nearly 40% of our state legislature is represented by women lawmakers—more than double the percentage in 2016, when women made up about 19.6% of the Michigan House and Senate. 

“Here in Michigan, equality and prosperity for everyone are at the core of who we are,” said Gov. Whitmer in a recent press release. 

To commemorate the 104th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, Governor Gretchen Whitmer—alongside Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) and Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Harris Bolden—proclaimed August 26 as Women’s Equality Day. 

“As the first woman Senate Majority Leader in Michigan history, I’m forever indebted to and inspired by the trailblazing women—like Eva McCall Hamilton, the first woman elected to the Michigan Legislature—who fought tirelessly to pave the way for the historic level of leadership that women hold in Michigan today,” said Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) in a press release. 

“When young girls grow up seeing themselves reflected in positions of influence, we are laying the groundwork for a future where women in leadership is the norm. Together, we can continue to build a culture where women aren’t only in conversation, they’re leading it.” 

“As the first Black woman to serve on the Michigan Supreme Court in its 188-year history, I feel the weight of that milestone because I know personally of the pain and sacrifice of our ancestors,” said Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, who served as a state representative before joining the state supreme court earlier this year.

“But I also bear it with great pride in knowing I can inspire a new generation, especially young Black women, to achieve something they never thought possible.”

“Whether it’s protecting reproductive freedom, expanding access to affordable childcare and education, lowering costs, or creating economic opportunity for women, we will continue to break down barriers that have prevented women from reaching their full potential and build a stronger future for women in Michigan and across the nation,” said Gov. Whitmer in the press release. 

“Together, let’s honor our past and look forward to a future where our daughters can not just live, but thrive.”