Gloria Steinem to Speak in the City

Gloria Steinem, one of the leaders of the Women's Liberation Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, is coming to Portsmouth next month to speak about the importance of true equality for all people.

According to RiverRun Bookstore's website, Steinem is scheduled to speak at the South Church on April 19 at 7 p.m. and her appearance is already sold out. The Fleet Street business partnered with the New Hampshire Women's Initiative and the Women's Fund of New Hampshire to make the event possible.

"We plan to use this event with Ms. Steinem as the focal point for a larger conversation in our community about issues of gender equality," reads the bookstore's website. 

The timing of Steinem's appearance coincides with a recent push by Portsmouth area residents to urge federal lawmakers to repeal DOMA, known as the federal Defense of Marriage Act. to guarantee marriage equality for military spouses regardless of their sexual orientation.

The Portsmouth City Council also voted to sign on to amicus brief for landmark U.S. Supreme Court casethat will address Defense of Marriage Act at the request of former New Hampshire Rep. Jim Splaine of Portsmouth, who led the effort in Concord to approve marriage equality in the state in 2009. Both actions followed the recent death of Charlie Morgan of Rye, a New Hampshire Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer who fought against DOMA.

RiverRun Bookstore owner Tom Holbrook also announced on the store's website they will soon announce several community forums leading up to the events, as well as some ways to connect on this important topic through social and traditional media.