Celebrating Men as Members of the League
5/7/24
Today marks 50 years of men as full and equal members of the League of Women Voters. Yes, men marched beside women in the fight for women’s suffrage, and many even worked to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, but, until May 7, 1974, men were only allowed to be affiliate members of League, and in some cases they were even charged higher dues for this privilege!
"The League's inclusion of men underscores the essential truth that achieving gender equality demands the involvement of everyone, regardless of gender. Men play a critical role, not only in policy-making, but also as allies standing in solidarity with women to foster equity and justice," writes John Engle, Vice President of Operations for the League of Women Voters of Chicago. "The issues we address at the League are universal—touching lives and requiring engagement across the entire spectrum of our society. I am proud to be able to contribute to the League's more than a century of impact."
Thank you to all the men who have joined us in our mission to empower voters and defend democracy! We need all the help we can get—so encourage all your friends, regardless of gender, to join the League today.
PROCLAMATION
Celebrating the League of Women Voters 50th Anniversary Granting Men Full Membership
May 7, 2024
WHEREAS, the League of Women Voters of Illinois is a nonpartisan political organization whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government, to increase understanding of major policy issues, and to influence public policy through education and advocacy; and
WHEREAS, men worked as allies alongside women in the movement for women’s suffrage, leading up to the founding of the League of Women Voters, and ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920; and
WHEREAS, men jointly participated with women in the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution since its inception in 1923; and
WHEREAS, at the 35th Biennial Convention of the League of Women Voters, held in San Francisco, CA, members voted to open full membership in the organization to men, League President, Lucy Wilson Benson stated, "Exclusion of men perpetuates a form of discrimination I believe it’s time to end. There’s an element of hypocrisy in our fighting for the Equal Rights Amendment when we continue to deny equal member rights to men."
NOW THEREFORE, I, Becky Simon, President of the League of Women Voters of Illinois, honor and congratulate the men who have joined the League of Women Voters over the last 50 years as equal partners in making our communities stronger by defending democracy and empowering voters, and further wish them continued success as we work together for years to come.