PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, this year is the ninety-third anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote in 1920; and
WHEREAS, in 1848,162 years ago in Seneca Falls, the need was
recognized and proclaimed, but after great effort there is still no reliable
protection in the U.S. Constitution for women against sex discrimination in
general; and
WHEREAS, in many other ways the tasks of providing equal opportunities to women and men, and the tasks of removing burdens which fall unjustly on women as compared with men remain uncompleted,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: that the City Council of Charlottesville, Virginia, does hereby proclaim August 26, 2013, as WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY in remembrance of all those women and men who have worked to develop a more equitable community, which acknowledges both the real similarities and the important differences between women and men, with liberty and justice for all; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that the
City Council urges all citizens on August
26 and thereafter (1) to treat all distinctions and classifications
according to gender as initially suspect and to be questioned until they are
justified by an equitable and compelling interest of the community, the
institution, or the individuals affected; and (2) to require that the
burden of justification for any distinction according to gender be borne by those
who wish to discriminate against women as compared with men; and (3) to
examine all "facially neutral" criteria such as physical stature requirements,
occupational qualifications, child care assistance opportunities, home
maintenance responsibilities, elder care benefits, and
disability benefits to
determine whether they have disparate impact on women; and (4) to promote
affirmative action in the public, voluntary, and private sectors in order to
overcome the effects of past discrimination and stereotyping which have limited
the life chances of women and girls as compared with men and boys; and (5)
to eliminate all unjust discrimination and prejudice against women and ensure
equality of rights, privileges, and responsibilities under equitable principles
and practices for all women and men.
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