Letter from the Editor
In this month’s GWC newsletter, we share news and events to encourage you to dive in and get active. First, our Candidate Action team provides a spotlight on three women running for office in in Texas, Wisconsin and California. We also provide a Tiny Action that you can do right now.
We discuss the latest updates on ERA, including information about our upcoming webinar, Legalize Equality. In preparation for Pride Month in June, we have included part one of a two-part series of recommendations for books, podcasts, music and more to celebrate LGTBQ women. We provide info about the latest Books Abroad reading pick, and finally, we introduce you to the two new GWC Communications Committee co-chairs, and provide information about how you can volunteer with GWC.
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GWC Senate Reference Guide & Candidate Information Action Team Update
By Kati Newcomb
The Senate Reference Guide
This month, the Candidate Information Action Team is eager to share A Reference Guide to 2020 US Senate Elections, prepared by the GWC Editor of Candidate Information, Kati Newcomb. The guide provides info about Senate races in each voting state, as well as other close or crucial races to get involved in across the country. The Reference Guide includes profiles of all 33 races where Democrats are running, and information on two races where candidates are running as Independents where no Democrat is on the ballot. Read more.
Recent Candidate Profiles ~ Women to Win series
The Team has also been hard at work on our Women to Win series with featured articles about Gina Ortiz Jones (TX-23), Tricia Zunker (WI-07) and Christy Smith (CA-25). To read these profiles and learn more about the series, click here.
Get Involved: Tiny Actions to Take This Month
During a pandemic, when standing in long lines to vote can literally jeopardize your health, it’s vital that Americans have the right to vote by mail. If we are to have safe, healthy, and fair elections, Americans at home must make widespread use of mail ballots, while Americans abroad must be able to return their ballots securely via email or web portal.
How can you help make this a reality? Democrats Abroad is asking members to participate in a “call storm”— call your elected representatives and ask them to support voting my mail. Visit the Tiny Actions page on the Democrats Abroad website to learn how you can participate.
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ERA Update & Online Event- Legalize Equality
Do You Believe in Equal Rights for Women?
If so, join us for a live discussion on the Equal Rights Amendment and learn how your vote in November can make a difference. We will be hosting three screenings of the film Legalize Equality, followed by discussion on the ERA and how you can help.
- Tuesday, May 26th at 6:00 EDT / 11:00 GMT / 12 Noon CET
- Wednesday, May 27th at 3:00 EDT / 8:00 GMT / 9:00 CET
- Thursday, May 28th at 14:00 EDT / 19:00 GMT / 20:00 CET
You can RSVP for this event or other GWC events by clicking here.
ERA: One More Push and It’s in the Constitution!
By Carol Moore, GWC ERA Project, Florida & GWC Steering Committee
On May 13th, Carol Jenkins, Co-President and CEO of the ERA Coalition, led an impressive panel on “The Status of the ERA and What Comes Next?” Despite Virginia having voted for ratification in January 2020, ERA is not yet approved as part of the Constitution. The Trump Administration’s Department of Justice has issued an opinion saying that Virginia’s action is too late, referring to a deadline Congress put in the 1974 ratification legislation. Read more.
ACTION: DA members should write to their Senators to either thank them for their support of Senate Resolution 6 to eliminate the deadline to ratify the ERA, or to insist that they confirm to Senator Murkowski and Senator Cardin that they now support the resolution and that it needs to be brought to the Senate floor for a vote!
Visit this link on the DA website for information about how to contact your Senator.
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Join Us to Celebrate Pride Month
NYC Dyke March — Photo: DC Dyke March / Facebook
Celebrating LGBTQ Women in History and Culture
By Stacey Kruckel
GWC is proud to celebrate Pride Month in June. We've compiled a list of links to websites, books, podcasts, etc., that commemorate the history and achievements of LGBTQ women in history and culture. Part one of the list is below, and we will offer part two next month. We hope that you enjoy exploring these links.
- The Lesbian Herstory Archives is home to the world's largest collection of materials by and about lesbians and their communities. They have a large archive of videos and photos, and have created traveling exhibitions on LGBTQ book covers, and the writer and activist Audre Lorde, among other topics. Visit their website or check out their Facebook page.
- AutoStraddle’s list of 100 LGBTQ Black Women That You Should Know is an eye-opening list of African-American women artists, abolitionists, writers, musicians and more who have had a tremendous impact and influence on American culture. The list includes notables ranging from Ma Rainey, Angela Davis, Bessie Smith, Barbara Jordan and Audre Lorde, to more contemporary women, including Robin Roberts, Wanda Sykes, Roxane Gay and Samantha Irby.
Pride Month Celebrations
June is Pride Month, and even though, sadly, Pride parades have been canceled globally, many organizations, including Democrats Abroad, will be hosting virtual events and celebrations.
Democrats Abroad’s LGBT Caucus will be hosting a series of virtual events this month and next month on a variety of topics, including LGBTQ and Immigration, and a Drag Bingo Fundraiser. Visit the LBGT Caucus Events page to see the event list.
In addition, visit the International Gay Pride Calendar to find a list of virtual Pride Month celebrations globally.
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Books Abroad Feminist Literature Club
Rebecca Traister’s, Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger ~ September 2020
Books Abroad, the Global Women’s Caucus feminist reading group, is excited to announce its summer reading pick, Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger by Rebecca Traister. Save the date, September 20th, for an engaging discussion of the history of female anger as political fuel. We hope this pick makes a great summer read and gives you food for thought during election season. We look forward to seeing you again in September!
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Other News
New GWC Communications Co-Chairs: Stacey Kruckel, Germany & Carin Elam, The Netherlands
We are pleased to announce that Stacey Kruckel, DA Frankfurt Chapter Secretary, and Carin Elam, IT Liaison Global Women’s Caucus and the LGBT Caucus, have agreed to co-chair the GWC Communications Committee. Stacey and Carin will be joined by Sanjana Balakrishnan as part of a core Communications team, working under the guidance of Ann Hesse and with other volunteers to develop and execute a strategic communications plan for the Global Women’s Caucus. Communications is a vital part of how we can help get out the vote in November, so we look forward to seeing the work that will come out of the newly reformed and recharged committee. Email us at [email protected] if you would like to volunteer.
Call for Volunteers
The Global Women’s Caucus welcomes volunteers to join us and participate in our Action Committees. We have a vibrant online team that provides support worldwide. We work to create many remote and online activist opportunities for our far-flung members.
We have six action teams focusing on various issues, and they do research, educate our members, write and share articles on our media platforms, develop event tool kits and create online “calls to action.”
- Communications
- Equal Rights Amendment
- Reproductive Justice
- Candidate Information
- Books Abroad Feminist Literature Club
- Women and Climate
If you are interested in volunteering for one of our global teams, please email us.
Request Your Absentee Ballot!
Have you requested your ballot yet? Now is a good time to visit votefromabroad.org and make sure that you’re all set to receive your ballot, since COVID-19 has affected mail service to the US.
And while you’re there, check out their State Voting Guide to find your local election information and stay on top of deadlines and submission rules for this year’s elections.
Did you know that the VfA Voter Help Desk maintains an extensive FAQ resource? If you can’t find the answer you need there, you are welcome to submit your question to the VfA team of experts and you receive a reply, usually within just a few hours.
The need for competent leadership at all levels of government has never been more pronounced. Elections matter. And all elections - especially this one - are worth fighting for!
Registering to vote now is the number one thing you can do to help save our democracy. Please do it today!
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Thank you for reading our GWC Newsletter, and as always, stay tuned to our Facebook page for the latest news.
In solidarity,
Your GWC Team
Ann Hesse, Chair, Global Women's Caucus
Stacey Kruckel, GWC Newsletter Managing Editor