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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The observance of Women's History Month during March |
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2015 provides an ideal opportunity to acknowledge the historic |
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contributions made by women in the Lone Star State and beyond; and |
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WHEREAS, Since the founding of the Texas Republic, women have |
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played crucial roles in the social, economic, and cultural spheres; |
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Texas women participated in the abolitionist movement, and they not |
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only secured their own right to vote, but have also worked in behalf |
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of all citizens to promote equal opportunity, civil rights, peace, |
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and justice; and |
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WHEREAS, The first woman to run for the United States Senate |
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was a Texas suffragette, Minnie Fisher Cunningham, who served as |
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the founding executive secretary of the League of Women Voters; in |
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1910, women's rights activist Hortense Sparks Ward became the first |
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woman to pass the Texas bar exam; Fort Worth philanthropist Edna |
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Gladney advocated for child welfare and secured passage of state |
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legislation granting equal inheritance rights to adopted children |
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and banishing the word "illegitimate" from birth certificates; and |
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WHEREAS, Later in the 20th century, Oveta Culp Hobby became |
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the first director of the Women's Army Corps; Frances T. "Sissy" |
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Farenthold championed civil rights and women's rights as a Texas |
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state representative and gubernatorial candidate; she went on to |
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become a national figure in the human rights movement in the 1980s, |
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and she continues her endeavors today; other Texas women who have |
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left an indelible imprint include the state's second female |
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governor, Ann Richards, pioneering African American congresswoman |
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Barbara Jordan, and Emma Tenayuca, a leader of oppressed workers in |
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the Mexican American community; and |
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WHEREAS, Another leader, Dolores Huerta, has had an |
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immeasurable influence around the country through her success as a |
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community organizer and an advocate for the working poor, children, |
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and women; cofounder of the National Farmworkers Association, she |
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has been honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom; and |
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WHEREAS, The strength of our nation depends heavily on the |
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continued advancement of women; by acknowledging the enormous |
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positive impact they have made, we encourage future generations to |
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ensure that gender is not an obstacle that must be overcome on the |
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road to achievement; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March as Women's History Month and |
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celebrate the contributions made by women to this state and nation. |