Welcome to Girls in Government

There have always been female rulers and leaders (some Egyptian Queens are believed to have governed from around 3000 BCE) but today women in power are usually the exception, not the rule. Together we can change that!

March is Women's History Month

Every March, the country celebrates the accomplishments of women throughout American history. Want to know the why, what, when, how, and who of it all? Keep reading...

  • On March 19, 1911, a German woman named Klara Zetkin organized the very first International Women's Day. Want to know more?
  • Interest in International Women's Day was pretty low until the 1960s, when the women's movement caused women to wonder why they weren't included in the history books! Curious about the women's movement.
  • In 1978, a California school district started Women's History Week to promote the teaching of women's history. It was so popular that in 1981, Congress passed a resolution making the week a celebration for the entire country! Don't know what the word resolution.
  • In 1987, a group of women campaigned with representatives from museums, schools and libraries to expand the celebration, and Congress responded by declaring the entire Month of March National Women's History Month that very same year! Feel inspired to write your representative in Congress.
  • Two years ago, the first-ever national women's history museum opened in Dallas, Texas. "The Women's Museum: An Institute for the Future" pays tribute to women of the past and present, and runs Girlstart, a program that encourages young women to consider working in math, science and computer technology.

Posted on Saturday, March 1, 2008 by Registered CommenterGirls in Gov in | Comments Off

Cambridge has a historic first: An African-American lesbian mayor

The city of Cambridge made history this month when it elected the nation's first African-American, openly lesbian mayor. E. Denise Simmons took the reins from Kenneth Reeves, an African-American who was also openly gay.

 

EDeniseSimmons.jpgSimmons, a Cambridge native, has been a community activist for close to three decades, serving on the school committee for nine years and the city council since 2002. The city council elects the mayor.

 

"I think it's a profound privilege and responsibility," Simmons said. "I have the work of the community ahead of me, but as black woman and someone who is openly gay, I also represent a larger community."

 

Simmons was the only the second African-American woman to serve on the Cambridge City Council. Boston has yet to elect an African-American woman to its city council. Read more.

 

Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 by Registered CommenterGirls in Gov in , , | Comments Off

Democratic and Republican Presidential Primaries and Caucuses Results

Twenty-four states held presidential primaries or caucuses on February 5th: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia. For the Democrats, 1,681 delegates were at stake in 16 primaries and seven caucuses. The Republicans had 1,020 delegates at stake in 15 primaries and six caucuses.

Here's where the races are so far:

ivoted.gifDemocrats
Alabama - Obama
Alaska - Obama
Arizona - Clinton
Arkansas - Clinton
California - Clinton
Colorado - Obama
Connecticut - Obama
Delaware - Obama
Georgia - Obama
Idaho - Obama
Illinois - Obama
Kansas - Obama    
Massachusetts - Clinton
Minnesota - Obama
Missouri - Obama
Montana - (Democratic primary will be on June 3rd)
New Jersey - Clinton
New Mexico - Obama (Results are still be processed)
New York - Clinton
North Dakota - Obama
Oklahoma - Clinton
Tennessee - Clinton
Utah - Obama
West Virginia - (Democratic primary will be on May 13th)

Republicans
Alabama - Huckabee
Alaska - Romney
Arizona - McCain
Arkansas - Huckabee
California - McCain
Colorado - Romney
Connecticut - McCain
Delaware - McCain
Georgia - Huckabee
Idaho - (Republican primary on May 27th)
Illinois - McCain
Kansas - (Republican caucuses on February 9th)
Massachusetts - Romney    
Minnesota - Romney
Missouri - McCain
Montana - Romney
NewJersey - McCain
New Mexico - (Republican primary on June 3rd)
New York - McCain
North Dakota - Romney
Oklahoma - McCain
Tennessee - Huckabee
Utah - Romney
West Virginia - Huckabee

Posted on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 by Registered CommenterGirls in Gov in , | Comments Off

Women's Voices. Women Vote: Unmarried women are "a surging force in American politics"

Every year this nation’s priorities move further and further away from the concerns of the majority of American citizens, making daily life harder and harder. The prices we pay for housing, utilities, medications, transportation and food are all going up. Meanwhile, big business interests, profiting every time we lose, monopolize our policymakers’ attention. While companies boasting record profits are rewarded with tax breaks, ordinary citizens struggle each day to get basic needs met for themselves and their families.

Read more >>>

Posted on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 by Registered CommenterGirls in Gov in | Comments Off

Tomorrow's Presidential Primary Elections

VOTE411_Ad.gifAs you know, a record 24 states have their presidential primary elections tomorrow. Do you live in a Super Tuesday state? Are you over 18 and registered to vote? If so, make sure you check the times your voting location is open and make you voice heard tomorrow!

Visit www.VOTE411.org for all the details you need on primary dates, where your voting location is, and much more. Launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF) in October of 2006, VOTE411.org is a "one-stop-shop" for election related information. It provides nonpartisan information to the public with both general and state-specific information on the election process.

Old enough but not registered to vote? If you or someone you know has not yet registered to vote, there's still time to register before the general election on November 4.

Posted on Monday, February 4, 2008 by Registered CommenterGirls in Gov in , | Comments Off
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