[applause] >> if i could get everybody's attention, please. grab your food, have a seat. i am an old fashioned a journalist. a few of us still exist. i host "your call." thank you.

[applause] it airs from 10:00 to 11:00 and i am always wanting more women to call in. it is interesting to see when we have more men called versus women. we focus on politics, social issues, the environment. when i needed break, we focus on the arts. on today's show, we talked about international women's day. and what we're facing here at home. the u.n. declared march 8 international women's day three decades ago. the goal was to provide an opportunity to reflect and confront issues affecting women. we know that we cannot have a vibrant society and must we have a seat at the table and have the

power to make our own decisions about our bodies, families, and communities. each year, the un select a team . -- theme. if we could have everybody sit down, please. thank you. i love looking at the photographs and reading the stories about what happened around the globe. i encourage everyone to go home and log on to google, just type in "women's day." there are so many things happening today. i want to point out one of the great story. this really grabbed my attention. it took place in a village in india. 200 women blocked traffic for

the basic right to go to work every day and earn money. i want to read a couple of quotations. "we have brought in winds of change. the same husbands who used to order us indoors when officials came to talk, now tell us to go out and interact with them. these groups are bringing down the barriers, hiking literacy rates. it is amazing to see what is going on around the world. we have our own challenges in the states. who would have thought that birth control would be the topic of discussion in the year 2012? right? [applause]

then it would be dominated by middle-aged white man, for the most part. i was shocked when i saw the birth control hearing at which a religious man with no background were asked to testify. i do not really like to use his name, but i'm sure you are familiar with the comments of the radio host made. the democrats invited her to testify and her testimony focused on stories about women who take the tell -- pill for health reasons. she was not even talking about sex. this radio host made incendiary comments. i will not repeat them, because i do not want to stick to that level. -- stopp to that level.

41 corporations have pulled their advertisements from this radio show. [applause] i am in the radio business, that is a lot. 41 major companies. aol, netflix, that is a lot of companies. two radio stations have dropped his show altogether. not surprisingly, john stuart have had the best commentary on what is going on. there are so many attacks on women's health. we talked about this on my show today. last year, states enacted a

record number of abortion restrictions. in all 50 states combined, we are talking. legislators introduced more than 1100 provisions. in 2010, it was 950. 68% of these provisions restrict access to abortion services. yesterday, bob mcdonnell signed a bill that requires women to have the ultrasound's prior to having an abortion. this was supposed to be a transvaginal ultrasound. 300 women's rights groups to to the streets of the capitol in richmond, va., on saturday and they were matched by cops. i saw a little girl that was on the steps with about 10 cops. a protest is taking place as we speak in idaho over a similar law. in alabama, one of the ultrasound bills can be and is

president of the company that sells the equipment to do the ultrasound. you have to follow the money. there are connections to the american legislative exchange council, when you fall and connect the dots. she is putting stories together about who is behind all this legislation. it is very similar. we have seven ultrasound laws on the books. so many more are racing to the legislature. yesterday, democratic women senators in georgia staged a walkout to protest to measures that would limit access to services and contraception. i want to read a couple of headlines. ohio remains on the front lines of the abortion debate.

michigan legislature passes a partial birth abortion bans. you talk ok's 72 hour waiting period for abortions. -- utah ok's 72-hour waiting period for abortions. i could spend the entire lunch talking about this. the good news is that women are organizing, and rallies are taking place on a regular basis. a lot of young women are getting involved. we had a caller to date asking, how do i talk to my male students in high school about this? that is the good news. there are a lot of solutions and we are making progress, but it is difficult. i would like to introduce the woman behind to this incredible event. shelly bradford bell --

[applause] she is executive director of global arts and education. please join me in welcoming her. [applause] >> hello, everybody. happy international women's day. i really want to thank you for being here. you heard a lot of statistics. we all know a lot about what is going on. i am so pleased that the women we have here today -- have shown every single day of their life their dedication to people who have no one to speak for them.

there are things that some of us do not understand. i have never been so happy as i am today to be able to honor somebody like sage. one of the most beautiful women that you will ever have met. she could speak to you for five minutes and would fall over to the ends of the earth. today, we have that same opportunity. thank you for what you have done by recognizing them today. global arts is a program that works with kids. our goal is to teach kids about the other countries, other languages, and take them on trips. the only way you understand the world is to have seen it. you can look at the world from the microscope or you can look at it from the perspective of having stepped on the soil. what you are doing today is

helping us to achieve that for young people. future trips are to beijing, liz been -- lisbon. we will teach kids about the world. before we get started, we have a brief word from someone who is key in making things happen for women on a federal level. she has sent a person here to read a statement from her. that is our illustrious leader in congress, nancy pelosi. she will read a brief statement from nancy pelosi. [applause] >> she will assist she could have been here to celebrate with everyone today. business has kept her in washington. she asked me to share with her -- share with the overstatement.

on international women's day, we marked progress made for women and the work still to be done. we celebrate equality, and shine a light on the dark corners were inequality remains. we honor the suffragettes and reached for the ballots and stand with the women around the world still denied the fundamental right to participate in their democracy. the past year has painted a mixed portrait of both hope and struggle for the world's women in. three women won the nobel peace prize, yet millions of mothers and daughters remained unable to reach their full potential, gets an education, and join the workforce, and lead their communities and nations. we have seen an attempt to silence women in the debate for women's health and the witness inappropriate attacks on women spoke out. we must fight to ensure that

when men always have a seat at the table. -- whenomen always had a seat at the table. the fledgling democracies of the middle east must include women in government at the ballot box and leadership. there is nothing more wholesome than the increased participation of women in the political process. the theme of this year's state empower women and under and poverty sends a clear message. we must empower women in order to secure growth for our economy, prosperity for our families, progress for our country, and equality worldwide. on this day, let's build on the success of our past, protect the rights we have gained, and recommit ourselves to the promise of a brighter future for women and girls across the globe.

congratulations to all of today's awardees. [applause] >> thank you. i would like to welcome the treasurer of the board of birinyi san francisco and attorney and consultant. [applause] >> good afternoon. i am here to present --the person who will be receiving the award this year. this is the first award.

they have to go back to work. [laughter] we have heard that before. when we think about who the right person is to be, and who is deserving of such an honor, we are not looking for a man who is in high political office or the ceo of a major company. instead, we are looking for someone who has demonstrated over time that he is committed to equal rights and opportunities for women and minorities. someone who was talked the talk and walk the walk. i know we have a number of gas from other countries. -- guests from other countries. we are talking about a fight for access to education, jobs, and economic opportunities, as well as the political arena. when i first became active in

this community, i have come to learn that we must have a place at the table. i feel like this should be the theme this year. we are talking about the corporate world, the boardroom, legislature, congress, city hall. i am very proud of the recipients of this year's man of the year award. our mayor -- m ayor lee. [applause] the mayor is the chosen one not

because you have the title of being the mayor. over the last 30 years, he has a history of promoting justice and opportunities for women and minority in the city and beyond. he graduated from law school. instead of heading to a corporate law office, he decided to work for the asian law caucus, fighting against discrimination. when he became the first asian- american elected to be in that position, that was less than three months ago that the mayor was sworn in. he took every opportunity to encourage went in. -- women. among the list of qualified candidates, he elected

supervisor olague. [applause] when he had the opportunity to appoint someone to the position which he formerly held as the chief administration officer of the city and county of san francisco, he immediately nominated -- to be our cao. we are living in a city that and we are very lucky. we know that women around the world are not as lucky. in san francisco, we have many departments that are headed by women.

we are very proud. i am looking forward to the next few years. we are very fortunate to have someone who believes in making room for women at the table. i would like to invite shelley bell to join me in presenting this award. [applause]

>> thank you. thank you very much for this very -- it is very much appreciated. i am sitting here listening to the introductory remarks, and i have flashbacks. it begins with having a different attitude. i have a strong mamom. understanding how a single mothers have to survive and raise a whole family, it gives your life's lessons. i also need to thank anita because she appointed me as her husband. [applause] i can go on and on about a lot of things, but i'm more excited

to work hard with us. there is a lot more to do. there will be efforts that will try to hold us back as a society, but we have to continue moving forward. we cannot let the kind of radio talk-show host and things like that hold us back. i, too, have to express my personal shock how such a vicious language could be used. when someone is invited to present their expertise as a law student about the needs for women. it has been spoiled to be in san francisco because this is often our culture, to listen and to follow up with the articulation from advocates and people who