President Joe Biden awarded FMF President Eleanor Smeal the Presidential Citizens Medal. (Jenny Warburg)
On January 2nd, Eleanor Smeal, president and co-founder of the Feminist Majority Foundation, received the prestigious Presidential Citizens Medal, an honor given to individuals who have performed “exemplary deeds of service to their country and fellow citizens.”
In a moving ceremony at the White House, President Joe Biden praised the recipients, stating, “I have the privilege of bestowing the Presidential Citizens Medal, one of our nation’s highest honors, to an extraordinary, and I mean extraordinary, group of Americans.” The Presidential Citizens Medal, created in 1969, is the second-highest civilian award in the United States, highlighting individuals who exemplify the best of American values through their service and leadership.
Smeal has been a trailblazer in the fight for women’s rights for decades. From her pivotal leadership in the campaign for the Equal Rights Amendment to her tireless advocacy for reproductive rights, pay equity, Title IX, and ending gender-based violence, Smeal has redefined the feminist movement. As a former president of the National Organization for Women (NOW), she has championed policies that promote equality, justice, and fairness for all genders.
Biden commended the recipients’ contributions, stating, “you are activists who turned pain into purpose and forced open the doors of equality and justice.” Smeal has done just that. She continues to inspire generations of feminists and is unwavering in her fight for equality.
Congratulations Ellie!