THE ERA COALITION CALLS ON BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION TO PRIORITIZE ADOPTION OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION

With Virginia ratifying last January, all requirements have been met for the ERA to become the 28^th Amendment

Monday, February 8, 2021 – (New York, NY) – The ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) Coalition and the Fund for Women’s Equality (FFWE) were joined by nearly 200 organizations and allies in the gender equality movement to applaud President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their longstanding support of equal rights. Leaders representing Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Feminist Majority, the National Indian Health Board, TIME’s UP Now, and the Coalition of Labor Union Women, among many others joined together to urge the Biden-Harris administration to prioritize making the Equal Rights Amendment the 28^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“For almost 100 years, there has been a constant battle to enshrine in our constitution that the equality of rights cannot be denied or abridged on the basis of sex or gender,” said Carol Jenkins, president and CEO of the ERA Coalition and the Fund for Women’s Equality. “The ERA Coalition and our allied partners have fought a state-by-state campaign across the country to see the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Now is the time for congress to act and acknowledge the 28^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”

In a letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris, the ERA Coalition stated:

With Virginia’s becoming the 38^th state to ratify the ERA on January 27, 2020, all requirements for it to become the 28^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution have been satisfied. The ERA has yet to be published by the Archivist, however, following the opinion issued in a memo from the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice, Office of Legal Counsel. We ask you to work with Congress to pass historic resolutions to remove the arbitrary time limit from the preamble and recognize that the Equal Rights Amendment has been ratified by three-fourths of the states and is now the 28^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“The FFWE is excited to partner with the Biden-Harris administration in this first step toward real gender equality,” said Mona Sinha, chair of the Fund for Women’s Equality. “Once enshrined, we intend to begin the implementation of the Biden-Harris agenda for women nationwide.”

“Preserving the principle of gender equality in our Constitution will help ensure that all people – regardless of sex or gender – are afforded the opportunity to reach their full potential,” said Kimberly Peeler-Allen, chair of the ERA Coalition. “The bi-partisan legislative agenda and massive public support are there for gender-equality. We look forward to a new day when all citizens are recognized as really equal under the law.”

“We thank President Biden and Vice President Harris for their long histories of support of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and prioritizing its adoption in the Biden-Harris Women's Agenda. Under their leadership, we can finally see this near century-long campaign completed,” said Bettina Hager, DC Director and Director of Outreach and Advocacy for the ERA Coalition.

“We are so close to enshrining the ERA into the US Constitution,” said Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority and a 50-year veteran in the ERA struggle. “After 100 years of struggle these 100 days are the most important for finally banning sex discrimination in our states’ and nation’s laws, programs, and policies. It will unleash the talents and contributions of tens of millions of people. There cannot be a time limit on equality especially when the overwhelming majority need and want it.”

“The time is now! We urge the Biden-Harris Administration to seize this great moment in time by prioritizing the removal of the time limit for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) added by Congress in 1972,” said Beverly E. Smith, national president & CEO of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. “Let’s continue to make history for women’s equality in America.”

“As a lifelong Republican, I stand in full support of the Equal Rights Amendment and the Biden-Harris Administration prioritizing taking action on the ERA,” said Steve Andersson, ERA Coalition board member and former Republican state elected official. “It ensures women the equal opportunity to compete in all walks of life. The opportunities this will afford all people, regardless of sex, reflect the long-held principles of the GOP that individual rights, limited government, and a free market make the United States a truly exceptional place to live.”

The ERA Coalition and their allies say that with the Biden-Harris administration they anticipate creating a more equal future by lifting up gender equity and all women, especially women of color, Black, Indigenous, transgender, non-binary people, and people with disabilities, those most vulnerable to systemic racism and sexism.

Individuals can sign on to the letter to the Biden-Harris Administration to show their support for prioritizing the Equal Rights Amendment, and finally realizing an equal future for all.