Feminist Majority Foundation today applauded and celebrated Ms. magazine co-founder Gloria Steinem on being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Steinem was one of 16 honorees to receive the prestigious award from President Barack Obama today at The White House. She was honored for her leadership “in the women’s liberation movement,” the White House said, as well as for cofounding Ms. in 1972.
Before she helped start the groundbreaking feminist magazine, she helped launch New York magazine, where she was a political columnist and features writer. The author of a number of books, including Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, and is also an inspirational, widely traveled speaker and a founder of the Women’s Media Center.
Feminist Majority Foundation President Eleanor Smeal and Ms. Executive Editor Katherine Spillar were both present at the ceremony.
“Gloria has been instrumental in promoting feminist issues for more than 40 years,” said Smeal. “The FMF has been honored to carry on her work with Ms. for the past 12 years. I value my long and productive friendship with Gloria and look forward to many more. She is a beacon of feminist wisdom and strength.”
”We can never thank Gloria enough for all the work she’s done on behalf of women’s rights,” said Spillar. This presidential honor is so well-deserved—and, as Gloria said, it honors the entire women’s movement.”
Other medal recipients today include the late astronaut Sally Ride, media mogul Oprah Winfrey, country singer Loretta Lynn and former president Bill Clinton.
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