Biography

Eleanor Holmes Norton, born on June 13, 1937, in Washington, D.C., is an American lawyer, politician, and civil rights activist. She has served as the Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives for the District of Columbia since 1991, representing the Democratic Party. As a non-voting delegate, she has been a steadfast advocate for D.C. statehood and voting rights. Prior to her congressional tenure, Norton was the first woman to chair the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 1977 to 1981, where she established guidelines that recognized sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination. Her career is marked by a commitment to civil rights, gender equality, and social justice.

Education and Political Experience

• Education:

  • Bachelor of Arts from Antioch College
  • Master of Arts in American Studies from Yale University
  • Juris Doctor from Yale Law School

• Political Experience:

  • Assistant Legal Director at the American Civil Liberties Union
  • Chair of the New York City Commission on Human Rights
  • Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  • Professor at Georgetown University Law Center
  • Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the District of Columbia

Throughout her career, Norton has been a trailblazer in civil rights and feminist movements, breaking barriers and advocating for equal opportunities for all.