August brings the heat and the events! Check out everything to celebrate this summer!
We’ve loved supporting recent WGA and SAG strikes because we fully support fair workplaces. In celebration of writers everywhere and people who’ve stood up for rights over time, here are a few people to remember, reasons to celebrate, and other overall great things about social justice wins throughout time!! Check out our August Days to Remember.
Friday, August 4
California’s Proposition 8 is struck down as unconstitutional.
Folks have come for the LGBTQ community over and over again. Remember Prop 8? In May of 2008, California legalized marriage equality. However, that November, voters approved the Proposition 8 ballot measure. It created an amendment to the California Constitution that made same-sex marriage illegal. After protests and lawsuits, the California Supreme Court eventually struck it down. This provided marriage equality in California. Well, the naysayers lost, and love and justice won. Now, they’re coming for Obergfell v. Hodges, drag shows, and the queer community. They. Will. Lose. Maybe not immediately, but they will. Stay strong. Stay in the streets. Stay on the phone with your elected officials.
Sunday, August 6
Voting Rights Act becomes law (1965)
The 15th Amendment (1870) guaranteed Black men the right to vote. The 19th Amendment (see August 26 below) delivered Black women the right to vote, too. However, even though voting was legal, many states and towns passed laws that made voting impossible. These laws — plus constant threats and intimidation — suppressed the vote. And despite the Voting Rights Act, today we’re still fighting for voting rights. Our founder believes, “Gender matters when it comes to civic engagement. Not only do women make up at least half of the electorate, but legislators are increasingly voting on gender-focused and reproductive health-focused matters, including abortion access. Coupled with the ongoing assault on voting rights, we recognize the importance of work in this area.”
Tuesday, August 8
International Cat Day
Celebrate Black Cat Appreciation Day on August 17!
We should always celebrate cats. Not to be confused with National Black Cat Appreciation Day (August 17th) or Hug Your Cat Day (June 4th), International Cat Day is a day to appreciate and celebrate our furry, mysterious, playful companions. The International Fund for Animal Welfare established this fun day in 2002. In fact, our founder has an Instagram highlight section dedicated to her cat, Catsby!
Wednesday, August 9
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
Created by the United Nations (UN), the goal of this day is to raise awareness of issues that affect indigenous peoples around the globe. These include:
- better economic outcomes
- migration and land rights
- recognition of cultural traditions
Learn more about this awareness day.
National Book Lover’s Day
Book lovers, this day is for you! Bibliophiles and bookworms rise up. On this day, all over the country, celebrate your favorite hobby: reading. Why not visit a bookstore or a library? Or, just find a comfortable place to spend the day reading! If you’re looking for more unique ways to enjoy this day, check out this article.
Pres. Nixon resigns.
On this day in 1974, President Richard Nixon became the first president to resign. His resignation came after more than two years of scandal and many televised hearings. As a result, his popularity dropped, among both the American public and fellow politicians. A month after his resignation, he received a full pardon from his replacement. In defense of democracy, we need to review guardrails and checks and balances regarding criminality that we have in place.
Saturday, August 12
International Youth Day
In honor of International Youth Day, the Pope is visiting Lisbon (where our founder resides) to attend WYD Lisbon Catholic Youth Gathering. We support the youth and opportunities to educate them, particularly with reproductive health. We love that organizations like Catholics for Choice, Advocates for Youth and others support young people’s sexual and reproductive health, regardless of their faith. Youth deserve the right to sexual and reproductive health.
Tuesday, August 15
Assunção de Nossa Senhora
Assunção de Nossa Senhora (Assumption Day) is a national holiday in Portugal. On Assumption Day, Catholic individuals honor the Virgin Mary’s life and her extraordinary assumption into heaven.
Want to learn more about Assumption Day? Check out our blog post, Why We’re Closed on Assunção de Nossa Senhora.
Woodstock begins.
Woodstock was a three-day music festival held in upstate New York in 1969. Famous for its memorable performances, drug use, and “free love,” the festival is considered to be one of the most endearing symbols of ‘60s youth culture. Then came Woodstock 99. Those boomers from the original event decided to sell out by hosting another one that failed attendees in many ways, with more than 1,000 needing medical treatment. We recommend you check out the Woodstock 99 Documentary to learn more. Woodstock 99 horror aside, we support events like Global Citizen Festival to bring folks together for a good cause!
Saturday, August 19
World Humanitarian Day
On this date in 2003, a terrorist attack killed 22 humanitarian aid workers In Iraq, including many UN staff. To honor them, in 2008, the United Nations created World Humanitarian Day. The goal of this day is “to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world.” For 2023, the theme focuses on the Human Race with the slogan, “It takes a village.”
Monday, August 21
Senior Citizens’ Day
While we at FUNKY BROWN CHICK recognize the achievements and accomplishments seniors make in society, we think that celebrating seniors’ sexual health is also important. Even seniors can still learn a thing or two about sexual education; they have high levels of STIs due to a lack of concern about pregnancy and forgetting the need to protect themselves. Remember, there’s always time to continue learning and to enjoy having sex. Find sex-positive resources and sexual health information geared toward those over 50 here and here.
Thursday, August 24
Birth of Marsha P. Johnson (1945)
Pioneering activist and entertainer Marsha P. — P for “pay it no mind” — Johnson became an advocate for the LGBTQIA community as a young adult. She was present at the movement-inspiring Stonewall Inn riots. She and fellow advocate Sylvia Rivera founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries), dedicated to helping homeless LGBTQIA youth. Johnson died under mysterious circumstances in 1992. She and Rivera were honored with a monument in NYC. Learn more about her in her own words here. Check out other organizations following in her footsteps.
Friday, August 25
Death of Alfred C. Kinsey (1956)
If you’ve ever watched Masters of Sex, you’ve learned a little about the life of Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey. Kinsey had been a lecturer on marriage and family for nearly a decade by the time he established the Institute for Sex Research (ISR) on the Indiana University campus in 1947. It’s not unusual for critics to bring up his “controversial” personal life; however, he was a serious researcher. Dr. Kinsey led the ISR from its beginnings until his death. During his leadership, the Kinsey Reports became a talking point in American culture.
Saturday, August 26
The 19th Amendment is officially adopted.
Ratified in 1920, the 19th Amendment prohibits all states and the federal government from denying the vote to anyone due to their gender. Before this amendment passed, each state had developed its own laws on women’s suffrage. This law was the result of nearly 100 years of advocacy for women’s right to vote. It is reported that after the Amendment was ratified, over eight million women nationwide voted in the 1920 elections.
Women’s Equality Day
The first Women’s Equality Day was held in 1971.
This day celebrates the adoption of the 19th Amendment (see above). Former U.S. Representative and women’s rights activist Bella Abzug is credited with proposing this observance. The first Women’s Equality Day was held in 1971. Need some ideas on how to celebrate? Visit the Women’s History Alliance website.
Monday, August 28
Civil Rights march on Washington.
Officially called the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom,” this demonstration set the stage for the passage of future civil rights laws. There were many goals for this march, including school desegregation, funding for job training, and protections against employment discrimination. It was during this march that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his powerful “I Have A Dream” speech. While change came slowly, in the next few years, several landmark pieces of civil rights legislation were passed.
We hope that you and your team are taking summer vacations and enjoying some much-deserved time off! As you come back refreshed and reevaluate your overall strategy, consider getting in touch with us if you need support with strategic planning, digital strategy, social media marketing, or data analytics.
