Legislature Considering Establishing Red Dress Day, Tuskegee Airmen Day, Dystonia Awareness Day and More

At the State Capitol, among the hundreds of legislative proposals being considered is one under the jurisdiction of the Government Affairs and Elections Committee, which would have the state designate various commemorative days.  In addition to members of the public commenting on the numerous days proposed, a number of legislators also came before their colleagues to support various aspects of the legislation.

Among them are these:

State Senator Cathy Osten submitted testimony in support of the legislation, drawing particular attention to the section that “would establish Red Dress Day as a day commemorating missing and murdered indigenous women and children on May 5th. It is important that we shine a light on these often ignored or under reported tragedies in the indigenous community and remember the victims that we have lost,” Osten said.

State Representative Tammy Exum, also in support of the bill, noted that it “would declare April 26th of each year as Tuskegee Airmen Day.  By officially designating April 26th as Tuskegee Airmen Day, we would be recognizing the tremendous accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first black military airmen group in American history,” Exum testified. “Their exemplary service and bravery led them to successfully complete over 15,000 missions, most notably their bomber escort missions. Of those escort missions, they skillfully shot down 112 enemy aircraft. Their impressive performance earned them more than one hundred fifty Distinguished Flying Crosses. Their efforts throughout the entirety of the war can be commemorated on April 26th, the day that the 332nd Fighter Group flew their final combat mission.

State Senator Matt Lesser urged members of the Government Administration and Elections Committee to add the designation of the month of November as Epilepsy Awareness Month.  “It is estimated that 36,000 residents have been diagnosed with epilepsy in the state of Connecticut alone. Despite strides, this community still faces barriers to treatment, as well as social stigma and discrimination, that prevent people impacted by epilepsy from fully participating in public life. Greater awareness of this condition and its effects will undoubtedly help dispel misconceptions and foster inclusivity, as well as lead to earlier detection and intervention, improving outcomes and quality of life for thousands of residents. Additionally, public education and advocacy for research funding can drive advancements in understanding the condition and developing more effective treatments. Declaring November as Epilepsy Awareness Month is a vital step in our efforts towards a safer and more inclusive Connecticut for all.”

State Representative Kathleen McCarty urged the committee to establish Dystonia Awareness Day on September 15 in concert with National Dystonia Awareness Month.  She explained that Dystonia is a neurological disorder that causes excessive, involuntary muscle contractions. It is a disorder that involves miscommunication of signals in the brain to the muscles. The muscle contractions are involuntary, painful and produce repetitive or twisting movements. There are more than 500,000 cases of dystonia in the United States. It is the third largest movement disorder. It is essential to build more awareness about this “hidden disability” in our state and to support more research on this debilitating neurological movement disorder.”

The bill, House Bill 5409, also includes proposals to designate June 1 as Barbers Day, “because of all the barbers do in the state,” as one supporter testified at a public hearing earlier this month.