Why Young Men in the US Should Pay Attention to and Advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment
July 23, 2024
It is the International Day of the Girl, 2019. Our thanks to UN Women at the United Nations for continuing to highlight the precarious state of girls around the world. There are 1.1 billion of them. According to UN Women: Each year, 12 million girls under 18 are married; 130 million girls worldwide are still out of school; And approximately 15 million adolescent girls aged 15-19 have experienced forced sex. Many promises made at the now iconic Beijing Conference in 1995 (Hillary Clinton's declaration that "Women's Rights are Human Rights") have not been kept.
We must remember that here in the United States, the work we do to correct our Constitution with the Equal Rights Amendment is for our girls--who will have a chance of living a more Equal Future--when our efforts are successful. Until then, their prospects are dimmed, generations forward. Let's work even harder for our girls.
SIGN OUR PETITION
More than 1,000 of you, from across the country, have signed our letter to Chair Nadler of the Judiciary Committee, asking him to proceed to the floor with a vote on HJ Res 38, Rep Jackie Speier's bill to remove the deadline included in the ERA's preamble. We need many, many more to break through the crowded Committee schedule to get on the calendar this year. Please join us by signing on here.
VIRGINIA
The good news in Virginia is that its residents still approve the ratification of the ERA--in a poll reported in the Washington Post, 84% of all Virginians support the ERA. Another poll indicates 76% indicate they would rather vote for a candidate who supports the measure.
Meanwhile, Election Day for every single legislator in the state is coming at us fast: November 5th is the day. The Coalition is working with our lead organizations in the state--VARatifyERA.org, Feminist Majority, NOW, Equal Means Equal, to get out the vote. We have begun weekly calls with advocates on the ground and around the country who want to help Virginia claim the 38th state trophy in January 2020. Let us know if you want to join us and for the latest information and tools (postcards, phone banking, I Scream for Equality truck route) please go to VARAtifyERA.Org.
We have been happy to share ERA updates in New York City with VA House of Delegates ERA leaders Jennifer Carroll Foy, carrying the ERA bill again in 2020 and now Minority Leader Eileen Filler-Corn. Thanks to Lead Organization Downtown Women for Change, and ERA champion Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney for organizing these events.
UPCOMING VA EVENTS
The ERA Coalition will be in Virginia this month, working with organizations on the ground, and participating in two major gatherings: tomorrow, October 12th in Arlington, Representative and Megan Beyer's 5th Annual Women's Conference. Our Advisory Council member Jane Fonda will be the keynote guest, and I will participate in a conversation with Megan Beyer, and other leaders speaking on the need for equality.
On October 26th, DC Director/COO Bettina Hager and I will be in Richmond at the "New Era for the ERA” all-day conference at the University of Richmond School of Law and spend a couple of days with advocates on the ground.
JESSICA LENAHAN AND HEIDI SCHRECK IN CONVERSATION--NOVEMBER 18TH, NYC
And, finally, we hope you will join us on November 18th for a screening of Home Truth--which tells the story of Jessica Lenahan (formerly Gonzales), whose fight for justice led her to the Supreme Court (Gonzales v US). After the film, she will be conversation with Coalition Board member Heidi Schreck, who detailed the Supreme Court rejection of the case in her Broadway success, What the Constitution Means to Me.
Sign up for this event here.
In Solidarity,
Carol Jenkins
Co-President and CEO
ERA Coalition
Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our work towards equality for all.
