In what really seems like a last minute decision, Donald Trump has declared Saturday Women’s Equality Day. According to the announcement sent just before the end of the workday, the president chose August 26 to honor the passage of the 19th Amendment, which was ratified on that day in 1920.
“My Administration will continue to support the advancement of women, in every corner of the Nation,” the proclamation reads before listing the Trump administration’s gender-specific accomplishments. It also touts Trump’s budget proposal that includes a paid family leave program. There’s also some stuff about women and entrepreneurship as well as STEM. It very honestly reads like Ivanka Trump’s ghostwriter wrote the proclamation.
The proclamation notes that the purpose of Women’s Equality Day is to “honor America’s female pioneers.” “These resilient women have inspired others to challenge the status quo in order to advance the ultimate American value: that all men and women are created equal.” Trump concludes by proclamation by calling “on the people of the United States to celebrate the achievements of women and observe this day with appropriate programs and activities.”
So mark your calendars for Saturday and throw together some last minute “appropriate programs and activities” to celebrate women and their equality. Maybe whisper the words “Seneca Falls” out of a window or weep or something.