As the Queen herself, Beyoncé, once said, “Who run the world? GIRLS!” This month, join us in celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8. The beauty of this day lies in its universality: it’s a celebration of the social, economic and political achievements of women and femme-identifying folk across the globe. Furthermore, it is also a call to action to accelerate the demand for women’s equality. Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained, “the story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”

This holiday is meant for all of us to appreciate the impact the women in our lives have on both us and the world around them. It is important to acknowledge, thank and cherish these women for the work they do, whether that work be in our own homes, in a classroom or job or even in our country’s government.

New York, NY – June 30, 2019: Grand Marshal Marsha P. Johnson attends New York 2019 Pride March on 5th Avenue in Manhattan

Some ways to show your appreciation are through supporting women-owned businesses (see page 34), making donations to organizations geared toward female-oriented aid or even as simple as expressing gratitude toward the women in your life.

Some major organizations you can contribute to are Planned Parenthood, Girls Write Now and Women Impacting Public Policy, to name a few. But if you’re looking to celebrate and show your support locally, drop by and visit some of our female bartenders at halsey’s, Judy & Punch and Madame Marie’s.

Every year, this holiday comes with a thought- provoking theme; this year, it’s “Choose to Challenge.” According to the International Women’s Day website, “A challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change. So, let’s all choose to challenge.” This notion led them to pose a particularly important and relevant question: how will YOU help forge a gender-equal world?

We can, collectively, build a better tomorrow by celebrating women and advocating for their equality in any realm of the workforce, establishing inclusive professional environments where women can truly thrive, ensuring they’re equipped to make educated health decisions and increasing visibility of women’s creative initiatives around the world. This International Women’s Day, celebrate women’s achievement; support local, female-owned businesses; raise awareness against bias; join the movement toward equality and just take a minute to think about where we’d be without them, and thank the women in your life for all that they do!

LOS ANGELES – SEP 11: Gloria Steinem at the 2016 Primetime Creative Emmy Awards – Day 2 – Arrivals at the Microsoft Theater on September 11, 2016 in Los Angeles, CA

For more information, check out their website at internationalwomensday.com.