By: Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon
Alaska will recognize March as Women’s History Month, under a new law signed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Thursday.
“This legislation encourages schools, communities, and organizations to honor the contributions of women who have shaped our state and nation,” Dunleavy said in a statement on social media. He shared a photo of signing Senate Bill 43 into law, pictured by himself at his desk in his Juneau office, with the Alaska and U.S. flags on either side.
Bill sponsor Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, celebrated the occasion.
“Women’s history in Alaska is not only about past achievements but is also a way to honor the current and future contributions of women in Alaska,” Gray-Jackson said in a written statement Thursday. “This bill is aimed to encourage our Alaskan communities to honor the contributions of women who have helped paved the way throughout our state’s rich history.”
Gray-Jackson thanked legislators for supporting the legislation, including Rep. Carolyn Hall, D-Achorage, who carried the bill in the House. “Together, we will continue to inspire the future generations of Alaskan women,” she said.
This year, the Alaska Legislature has a historic number of women representing districts across the state, with the first majority of women serving in the Alaska House of Representatives – also recognized in a letter of support for the bill by former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, the first woman to represent Alaska in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“It would be fitting for this legislation to be passed by our 34th Legislature, where we have a record number of women serving our state,” she wrote, acknowledging several trailblazing female leaders of Alaska, including Alaska’s first female U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Murkowski and Peltola served alongside each other in the Alaska House from 1999 to 2002.
“By recognizing Women’s History Month, we make it clear to women, especially young women and girls that they should not be afraid to be the bold leaders Alaska needs to guide us into the future,” Peltola said. “We also honor the trailblazers that came before us, displayed remarkable leadership, and now serve as role models for our generation and the next.”
Next year will be the first March that the law will be in effect.
