WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
Important Moments in U.S. Women’s History
1848 The Seneca Falls
Convention is held
in New York, the
first women’s rights
convention in the United
States, which explores issues
of marriage, property laws, and the right
to vote. This is followed two years later
by the first National Women’s Rights
Convention in Worcester, MA.
1889 Jane Addams, a woman noted for
having same-gender living companions
throughout her life, founds Hull House, a
settlement house in Chicago.
1916 Although women still lack the right to vote
in every state, a woman, Jeanette Rankin,
is elected to the US Congress.
1962 Congress passes the Equal Pay Act,
making it illegal for employers to pay
a woman less than what a man would
receive for the same job.
1964 In 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
bans discrimination in employment on the
basis of race and sex. At the same time
the Act establishes the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to
investigate complaints and impose
penalties on sex discrimination.
1966 The National Organization
for Women is founded
to help increase female
participation in society.
1972
Title IX is enacted, which bans
discrimination on the bases of sex in
schools.
1974
Kathy Kozachenko is the first openly
LGBT person elected to a political office
and later the same year, Elaine Noble
became the first openly LGBT candidate
elected to a state-level office in the US.
1920 The 19th Amendment to the US
Constitution, which granted women the
right to vote is signed into law.
1955 Daughters of Bilitis
founded — the first
political and social
national organization for
lesbians in the US.
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network
90 Broad Street, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10004
T (212) 727 0135 · F (212) 727 0254 · [email protected]
www.glsen.org · facebook.com/glsen · twitter: @glsen
1983 Sally Ride becomes
first American woman,
and first known LGBT
person, to enter outer
space.
Urvashi Vaid founds the Boston Lesbian/
Gay Political Alliance, a non-partisan
political organization that endorses
candidates for political office.
1993 Family and Medical Leave Act grants
employees the right to take time off from
work in order to care for a newborn or
recently adopted child, or to look after an
ill family member.
1994 Deborah Batts is
nominated to the
federal bench by
President Clinton,
the first openly lesbian
African American to do so.
Anna Paquin wins an Academy Award for
Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The
Piano.
2000 Vermont becomes the
first state in the country
to legally recognize civil
unions between gay and
lesbian couples.
2003 National Center for Transgender Equality
is founded, with Mara Keisling as the
Executive Director.
2006 Kim Coco Iwamoto is elected to the
Hawai’i Board of Education, the first
openly transgender official to win a
statewide election.
2008 Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell debuts on
HLN TV.
2012
Megan Rapinoe helps
the US women’s national
soccer team take home
the gold medal from the
summer Olympics.
1999 Tammy Baldwin is first openly gay
non-incumbent and first women in
Wisconsin to be elected to the House of
Representatives.
Tegan and Sara release their first studio
album, Under Feet Like Ours.
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network
90 Broad Street, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10004
T (212) 727 0135 · F (212) 727 0254 · [email protected]
www.glsen.org · facebook.com/glsen · twitter: @glsen