In all the praises about Congressman Sidney Yates, there has been no mention of him being a (“gasp”) feminist.
And he was.
Congressman Yates never waivered in his passionate support of pay equity, comparable worth, protection against violence, parental leave and a woman’s right to control her own reproduction, free from stigma or coercion.
At Chicago NOW (National Organization for Women), we worked side by side with the congressman and with his competent, diligent chief of staff, Mary Bain, to ensure women would receive the same chances in life as men.
We all considered him our congressman, regardless of where we lived.
His door was always open to those who worked for an end to injustice and oppression.
He received our Great Strides Forward award in 1984 and was one of our Women’s Equity Day Walkathon marshals for many years.
Only his health kept him away later.
We miss him, but we’re better off for having had him around as long as we did. He was a class act.
