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A special section commemorating the 150th anniversary of women's suffrage in the Equality State.

From scrubbing the laundry to serving as commanding officers, the role of women in the military has changed significantly in the years since the dawn of women’s suffrage in Wyoming,

CHEYENNE – Having access to doctors and specialists is an important part of maintaining a healthy life. For women, health care often extends beyond the annual primary care visits.

In the early 19th century, American women lacked not only suffrage, but many other basic rights. A married woman could not own property or sign a contract, she had no right to her wages if she worked, and she had no custodial rights to her own children.

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things – that is the Wyoming way.

A century and a half after becoming the first U.S. territory or state to give women the right to vote, Wyoming is lagging behind its neighbors in gender pay gap statistics.

People in Wyoming are celebrating the rescue and restoration of our beloved state Capitol, celebrating 150 years of women’s suffrage and insisting we restore the statue of Esther Hobart Morris to the Capitol front. EHB, after all, is the first woman officeholder in this country.

I never bought into the notion that somehow women were treated differently than men in the political arena, or, for that matter, that somehow leadership styles are different between the two.

“I say rather than surrender that right, we would rather remain in a territorial condition throughout the endless cycles of time.”

Esther Hobart Morris

On Sept. 6, 1870, women in Cheyenne marched into polling places across the city, ready and willing to participate in an election for the first time. According to the Cheyenne Daily Leader, out of 776 total votes, 171 were cast by women.

“Oh, make no mistake; it’s not revenge he’s looking for. It’s a reckoning.” – Doc Holiday, “Tombstone”

When I moved to Cheyenne and was brushing up on state and local history, I was thrilled to find out that Wyoming was right out in front on women’s suffrage. How exciting to learn that women were first able to cast votes here in general elections, that we had the first woman governor and the …

Celebrating 150 years of women’s suffrage is occasion for real celebration! It is a time of reflection and a time to evaluate the future of Wyoming women; in our past, lies our future.

Stories abound about how and why Wyoming’s women were afforded suffrage. They are part of the history and pride we will celebrate, and should debate, during the 150th year celebration.

When it comes to women serving in government, Wyoming is a state of firsts. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the country’s first female governor, justice of the peace and bailiff all came from the Equality State.

For most of the Equality State, this year has been a celebration of events marking the 150th anniversary for women’s suffrage.

History matters, and during this year’s celebration of the 150th anniversary of women’s suffrage, we find inspiration in the women and men who made sure we have the right to vote and hold office.

I have had the honor of working with Wyoming high school students who participate in Girls and Boys State, a summer leadership and civics program. The kids run for state office, as well as draft and debate policy bills. The issues they choose are some of the most cutting and crucial topics o…

I was born and raised in Cheyenne, a true Wyoming girl. My hopes and dreams for all Wyoming women started with me when I was a little girl.