Welcoming February & March 2023's Newest Members in Collaboration with the Equal Rights Amendment Coalition

The ERA Coalition, an organization led by women of color, is comprised of more than 280 allied organizations representing 80 million people, whose common mission is to see the Equal Rights Amendment published and implemented within the United States Constitution. As we continue our fight towards the constitutional protections on account of sex, many new companies, businesses, individuals, and organizations have followed suit and joined forces to become partners in the ERA Coalition. As a show of our gratitude and continued support, we would like to take a moment to spotlight our newest members this February & March.

In February & March of 2023:

• AFL-CIO
• National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC)
• American Association of University Women (AAUW), Garrett Branch
• SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change
• National Center for Lesbian Rights
• Indiana Women's Action Movement

Thank you so much to all of our new partners for their essential support in pursuit of publication of the Equal Rights Amendment as part of the United States Constitution. This month’s member highlights include the National Minority AIDS Council, Grace After Fire, AAUW - Garrett Branch, SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the Indiana Women's Action Movement!

AFL-CIO

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) works tirelessly to improve the lives of working people. They are the democratic, voluntary federation of 60 national and international labor unions that represent 12.5 million working people. The AFL-CIO strives to ensure all working people are treated fairly, with decent paychecks and benefits, safe jobs, dignity, and equal opportunities. They help people acquire valuable skills and job-readiness for the 21st century economy. In fact, they operate the largest training network outside the U.S. military!

National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC)

The National Minority AIDS Council leads with race to urgently fight for health equity and racial justice to end the HIV epidemic in America once and for all. They explain that their urgency is in the numbers: Black women are 20 times more likely to contract HIV than white women, and 50% of Black gay men will contract HIV by the time they are 35 (compared to 8% of white gay men living with HIV). Even with quality HIV services, the results for many Black women and gay men of color are awful – NMAC leads the way in determining what we are and aren’t doing that makes HIV so racially polarized, and takes action in response. Working with the ERA Coalition, NMAC hopes to normalize discussion on race in the HIV movement, as it pertains to individuals of all gender identities. Rather than reinvent the wheel, the National Minority AIDS Council prioritizes partnering with organizations, like the ERA Coalition, that have fought for racial justice and health equity since Selma, and call upon their years of experience and proven track records to support NMAC’s discussions – allies are important!

American Association of University Women (AAUW), Garrett Branch

The AAUW - Garrett Branch, founded in 1946, is a part of the national AAUW, which is the oldest and largest women's equity organization. Their current priorities include scholarships for college women, supporting local programs for women and girls, and developing programs for branch members that are both informative and fun. The AAUW - Garrett Branch has partnered with the ERA Coalition this month to work together in supporting leadership opportunities for women, celebrating women's accomplishments locally and throughout history and connecting active, community-minded local women with one another!

SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change

SIECUS was founded in 1964 by Dr. Mary S. Calderone.  A Medical Director at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Dr. Calderone became concerned about the lack of accurate information about sexuality available for both young people and adults. So at the age of 60, determined to live in a world in which sexuality was viewed as a natural and healthy part of life, Dr. Calderone founded SIECUS with Wallace Fulton, Reverend William Genne, Lester Kirkendall, Dr. Harold Lief, and Clark Vincent. SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change advances sex education through advocacy, policy, and coalition building, envisioning an equitable nation where all people receive sex education, are affirmed in their identities, and have the power to make decisions regarding their own health, pleasure, and wholeness. SIECUS has joined forces with the ERA Coalition this month to help fuel the momentum needed to finally publish and implement the Equal Rights Amendment within the U.S. Constitution. 

National Center for Lesbian Rights

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, legislation, policy, and public education. NCLR was the first national LGBTQ legal organization founded by women, bringing a fierce, longstanding commitment to racial and economic justice and the community's most vulnerable. Their legal, policy, and legislative victories set important precedents that improve the lives of all LGBTQ people and their families across the country. The free legal assistance empowers individuals to assert their own legal rights, and NCLR's community and public education broadens public support for LGBTQ equality. The National Center for Lesbian Rights has partnered with the ERA Coalition now to expand the community of women working together in pursuit of women's rights, LGBTQ rights, and equality for all!

Indiana Women's Action Movement

The Indiana Women's Action Movement (IndianaWAM) elevates Indiana through the power of women leaders. IndianaWAM recruits, trains, and empowers Democratic women running for the Indiana State Legislature and delivers credible and comprehensive insight to the public that feeds democracy at the grassroots level. They seek to create a more inclusive, just, and prosperous Indiana through campaign strategy and endorsements, fundraising, policy and messaging, field organizing, digital & data strategy/voter files development, and mentoring and networking. The Indiana Women's Action Movement is joining forces with the Equal Rights Amendment Coalition to further support women for elected office today, and in upcoming elections!

To learn more about how you can become a partner with the ERA Coalition today, please sign up on our New Partner Form!