The right to vote is a shining example to the world of what democracy means and why it’s so important. Voting is one of the strongest, most direct ways we can affect change. It’s our chance to influence, inspire, make our voices heard and hold our leaders accountable. But not too long ago, women were denied the right to vote. This year marks the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in New York State – three years before the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

New York has long been a national leader in the advancement of women’s equality. The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 – the nation’s first to address women’s rights – was organized by leading suffragists Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott and set in motion a decades-long push toward women’s suffrage.¹ On Nov. 6, 1917, New York legalized women’s suffrage.

It wasn’t an easy journey, though. Women were considered far from equal, with many anti-suffrage arguments focused on a woman’s supposed inability to think rationally, and some even declared that women didn’t have time to vote or think about politics because they were too busy taking care of the home.² But suffragists persevered nonetheless. They gave speeches in churches, convention halls, meeting houses and on street corners and circulated countless petitions. They also published newspapers, pamphlets and magazines to get their message out.³

Now, as we celebrate the centennial of women’s suffrage here in New York, we are not only reminded of what it took to get here, but also how far we still must go to achieve full women’s equality. Today, safeguarding women’s rights is more important than ever, and the Assembly Majority remains committed to doing just that. Not only do we have a federal administration that’s threatening a woman’s right to keep her reproductive health care decisions between her and her doctor, but, unbelievably, women still earn less than men for equal work.⁴

This year, the Assembly Majority passed two critical pieces of legislation to strengthen and protect women’s reproductive health rights. One measure affirms a woman’s right to choose and the other requires insurers to continue covering FDA-approved contraceptives at no cost to the consumer (A.1748, A.1378). The Assembly Majority also passed workplace protections including the New York State Fair Pay Act to ensure pay equity among male and female workers and to ensure that jobs traditionally held by women are not undervalued (A.4696).

A century after women’s suffrage was achieved in New York, our state remains a progressive leader on women’s issues and equality, recognizing that each and every person deserves to be treated with respect and fairness no matter their race, sex, creed, nationality or sexual orientation. For the trailblazers that came before us, the activists that stand among us and the visionaries yet to come, may this anniversary serve as a spark for great strides forward in the march toward full women’s equality.

New Yorkers can celebrate women’s suffrage in a variety of ways, including attending workshops and galleries, visiting historic sites or reading more about our state’s famed history. The New York State Women’s Suffrage Commission, which was created to honor the fight for women’s rights and pay tribute to pioneering suffragists and figures,⁵ has more information on its website at www.ny.gov/programs/new-york-state-womens-suffrage-commission.

As always, my door is open. If you have questions about this or any other community issue, please feel free to contact me at 631-537-2583 or via email at Thielef@nyassembly.gov.

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¹ history.com/this-day-in-history/seneca-falls-convention-begins

² slate.com/blogs/the_vault/2014/02/12/women_s_suffrage_pamphlet_refuting_arguments_against_enfranchisement.html

³ nwhp.org/resources/womens-rights-movement/history-of-the-womens-rights-movement

⁴ www.aauw.org/research/the-simple-truth-about-the-gender-pay-gap

⁵ governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-and-lieutenant-governor-hochul-kick-celebration-women-s-suffrage-centennial-new