Home
Group of women wearing purple sashes stand outside smiling.

Women's Equality Day Commemoration 2023

Suffrage100MA (now the Massachusetts Women's History Center) held its 2023 Women’s Equality Day commemoration at the Boston Public Garden’s Swan Boats on August 22, 2023! This annual event recognizes the adoption of the 19th Amendment into the US Constitution, Aug. 26, 1920, and also acknowledges that other laws needed to be changed so that Black, Native American and Asian American women – and men – could vote. See photos below!

Women's Equality Day 2023

Our theme this year: Women’s Health & Maternal Health Crisis of Women of Color. We were pleased to be joined by our co-hosts, the Boston Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement and Our Bodies Ourselves Today, and special guests from the MA Department of Public Health, who shared their incredible work in the areas of women’s/maternal health. Additionally, League of Women Voters of MA hosted a voter registration table.

Speakers included: 

  • Fredie Kay, Founder & President, Suffrage100MA
  • Judy Norsigian, Co-Founder, Our Bodies Ourselves
  • Norma Swenson, Founding Co-Author, Our Bodies Ourselves
  • Laura Prieto, Program Director, Our Bodies Ourselves Today and Co-Director, Mary Eliza Project
  • Diana Namumbejja Abwoye, Board Chair, Our Bodies Ourselves
  • Cristina Alonso, Board Member, Our Bodies Ourselves
  • Mariangely Solis Cervera, Chief of Equity and Inclusion, City of Boston
  • Dr. Robert Goldstein, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
  • Elaine Fitzgerald Lewis, Bureau Director for Family Health and Nutrition, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

The Swan Boats in the Boston Public Garden have been the setting for Suffrage100MA’s Women’s Equality Day event since 2011. The beautiful giant swans wear replica “Votes for Women” sashes, as do many of the speakers and attendees. This event brings together Suffrage100MA Partner organizations, elected officials, and community members to celebrate the inclusive history of the fight for women’s voting rights, as well as address today’s most pressing social justice movements.

Video: Women's Equality Day 2023

Group of adults and 1 child stand outside smiling.

Photo Credit: Axie Breen Photography

Group of adults and 1 child stand and sit outside smiling.
Fredie Kay stands outside speaking at lectern.
Purple tent and crowd sit outside at Boston Public Garden.
Fredie Kay wears purple sash and speaks at lectern.
Two women wearing purple sash stand outside speaking at lectern.
Two women stand at lectern speaking, wearing purple sashes.
Woman wearing purple sash stands outside speaking at lectern.
Woman hugs other woman.
Five women stand outside wearing purple sashes.
Our Bodies Ourselves old manuscript.
Man and woman sit outside wearing purple sashes.
Woman wearing purple sash stands outside speaking at lectern.
Woman wearing purple sash stands outside speaking at lectern.
Woman wearing purple sash stands outside speaking at lectern.
Woman wearing purple sash stands outside speaking at lectern.
Two women wearing purple sash stand outside speaking at lectern.
Woman wearing purple sash stands outside speaking at lectern.
Man wearing purple sash stands outside speaking at lectern.
Woman wearing purple sash stands outside speaking at lectern.
Fredie Kay wears purple sash and speaks at lectern.
Six women stand outside wearing purple sashes.
Group of adults and 1 child stand outside smiling.
Four women stand outside laughing wearing purple sashes.
Woman outside wearing purple sash.
Three women stand outside smiling.
Woman outside wearing purple sash.
Two women sit outside wearing purple sashes.
Two women stand outside smiling.
Woman sits outside wearing purple sash.
Four women in purple sashes stand and sit outside smiling.
Two women wearing purple sashes stand outside smiling.
Man and woman in purple sashes stand outside smiling.
Group of women sit outside wearing purple sashes.
Woman stands outside speaking to two people.
Group sits outside.
Three women stand outside smiling.
Two women wearing purple sashes stand outside smiling.
Two women stand outside speaking.
Three women in purple sashes stand outside smiling.
Woman and girl hug each other and smile.