Office of the Arizona Governor Doug Ducey issued the following announcement on Mar. 1.
Governor Doug Ducey today proclaimed March 2022 as Women’s History Month, kicking off a celebration of pioneering women who broke down barriers and made significant contributions to our state and nation.
“Arizona is proud to celebrate the women who challenged the status quo,” Governor Ducey said. “This March, and every day, we recognize the women who fought for their voices to be heard, who blazed a new trail and showed the ultimate determination for equality. These leaders paved the way so that many generations of women could follow their path. Let’s be inspired by the grit, perseverance and integrity of the women who helped shape our great state.”
Women’s History Month was established in 1987, and has been recognized by every U.S. president since 1995. Governor Ducey has issued a Women’s History Month proclamation every year since 2016.
Women in Arizona have held many “first” titles, ensuring they will not be the last. Arizona was home to Sandra Day O’Connor, who was the first female justice on the Supreme Court and the first woman Arizona Senate majority leader.
In 1999, Arizona inaugurated five female statewide officeholders — Betsy Bayless, Jane Dee Hull, Lisa Graham-Keegan, Janet Napolitano and Carol Springer. This was the first time women held all statewide elected offices in United States history. Arizona has 39 women currently serving in the Arizona State Legislature.
Lorna Lockwood was the first female state chief justice in U.S. history and spent a decade as the first woman on the Arizona Superior Court in Maricopa County. Another female leader, Polly Rosenbaum, is Arizona’s longest-serving state legislator, representing Gila County for 46 years. Frances Willard Munds was the first woman elected to the Arizona State Senate and the second woman state senator in the U.S.
Arizona has also spearheaded opportunities for women. In 1912, while entering statehood, Arizona became the tenth state to grant women the right to vote – eight years before the ratification of the 19th Amendment allowed women the right to vote nationally.
View a PDF of the proclamation HERE.
Text of the proclamation can be viewed below.
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WHEREAS, women in Arizona’s history have transformed the state and entire nation through leadership in a wide range of fields including elected and appointed public service, military service, public safety, entrepreneurship, business, education, medicine, the arts, philanthropy, and charitable service; and
WHEREAS, the first woman United States Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor; first woman state Chief Justice in United States history, Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorna Lockwood; one of the first women in the United States elected to a state legislature, Representative Rachel Emma Allen Berry are from Arizona; and
WHEREAS, Arizona inaugurated five female statewide officeholders—Governor, Secretary of State, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Treasurer, and Attorney General—in 1999, the first time women held all statewide elected offices in United States history; and
WHEREAS, Arizona became the tenth state to grant women full voting rights in 1912, nearly eight years before the United States Congress ratified the 19th Amendment and granted women the right to vote nationally; and
WHEREAS, Arizona celebrates the women whose tenacity, courage and grit contributed to the development and continued growth throughout Arizona communities; and
WHEREAS, women working in the health care and medical industries throughout Arizona have made history during the pandemic, including those who have dedicated time, energy and resources to vaccinating Arizonans and saving lives; and
WHEREAS, 39 women are currently serving in the Arizona State Legislature; and
WHEREAS, women from across the United States have contributed to the achievements, prosperity and continued growth of our nation and these examples of leadership and determination should be honored and recognized; and
WHEREAS, Congress passed legislation in 1981 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week”; and
WHEREAS, in 1987, Congress passed a law which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month”; and
WHEREAS, every president since 1995 has issued annual proclamations designating March to be “Women’s History Month.”
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Douglas A. Ducey, Governor of the State of Arizona, do hereby proclaim March 2022 as
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Arizona
GOVERNOR
DONE at the Capitol in Phoenix on this twenty-second day of February in the year Two Thousand and Twenty-Two and of the Independence of the United States of America the Two Hundred and Forty-Sixth.
ATTEST:
SECRETARY OF STATE
Original source can be found here.
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