The Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD) celebrates March as Women’s History Month, and Wednesday, March 8 as International Women’s Day. According to this years’ Presidential Proclamation,"During Women’s History Month, we celebrate the countless women who have fought tirelessly and courageously for equality, justice, and opportunity in our Nation. We are mindful that we are building on the legacy of both recognized trailblazers and unsung heroines who have guided the course of American history and continue to shape its future."
National Women’s History Month originally stemmed from an organized protest out of New York City in March of 1857, where women factory workers from various trades spoke out against poor working conditions. The first Women's Day celebration in the United States formally occurred in New York City in 1909. More than seven decades later, Congress established National Women's History Week in 1981, to be recognized annually during the second week of March. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month and every year since the president has issued a proclamation designating March Women’s History Month.
Did you know that the first draft of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not include sex/gender and that it was only added as an amendment in an attempt to prevent its passage? Fortunately, the addition did not have the desired effect, and the bill, including sex/gender, was signed into law by Lyndon B Johnson in 1964. After the bill was passed, the government began to enforce the new laws. As a result, Executive Order 11246 was issued on September 24, 1965, to address compliance with civil rights regulations. However, it made no mention of discrimination based on sex. It wasn’t until 1967, with Executive Order 11375, where sex/gender was included as a protected class. Learn more about the fight to include sex/gender as a protected class and the role of the National Organization for Women (NOW) here: Women’s Rights and the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Please consider visiting the Women's History Month website to access featured exhibits and collections, audio and video resources, as well as calendars of online events, courses and concerts occurring throughout the month.
Also, the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame website highlights stories of women who shaped our state and the nation’s history with courage, leadership, intelligence, compassion, and creativity. The women inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame come from diverse backgrounds such as: Pioneers, Politicians, Educators, Entrepreneurs, Minority Leaders, Lawyers and more.
The Colorado Civil Rights Division is dedicated to the enforcement of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA). CADA prohibits discrimination based on protected class in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation. The CCRD enforces CADA primarily through the investigation of complaints of discrimination, but also through mediation and education.
To learn about your Civil Rights and protections from discrimination under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act ("CADA"), visit the Colorado Civil Rights Division