Message from National NOW President Christian F. Nunes
March 1, 2024
Greetings Feminists,
Today is the beginning of Women’s History Month, and next week we will observe International Women’s Day on March 8. These occasions offer us a lot to think about, be inspired by, and learn by example.
For instance, I can’t think of a timelier theme for Women’s History Month than this year’s theme “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” Women face obstacles to being history-makers because of systemic racial and sex discrimination that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are meant to reject and reverse.
Women have been trailblazers in showing the importance of diversity, equality and fairness in all aspects of society—and in fighting back against those who would perpetuate systems of inequality.
In 2014, when the House was about to take up Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s bill to establish a Women’s History Museum, ultra conservative groups called it “a shrine to liberal ideology, abortion and liberal advocates.” But the bill passed overwhelmingly, with just 33 Republicans voting against it. During the debate, Rep. Maloney said on the House floor, “with each step we take forward, the steps behind us disappear.”
We’re still marching forward and gaining ground. We know we will face obstacles and opposition, aimed at depriving us of more opportunities to advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion.
But NOW members won’t be intimidated or dissuaded—inspired by the examples of those who’ve made and changed our history and motivated to write chapters of our own.
I was privileged this week to be on a panel honoring Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray that included her niece, Rosita Stevens-Holsey. She told me how much she appreciates NOW’s dedication in ensuring that her aunt’s work is not forgotten. It’s so important that we remember our history—particularly the parts left out of textbooks.
At a time when our rights are being curtailed, and our identities and bodily autonomy attacked by opponents of equality, the inclusion of Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray as the first Black queer person on any American currency is a testament to her relentless fight for justice. We stand on her shoulders as we continue her fight for equality.
In solidarity,
Christian
