LWVUS and More than 140 Diverse Nonprofits Call on President Biden to Act for Publication of the Equal Rights Amendment.
The League of Women Voters of the United States and more than 140 nonprofit organizations leading in women’s, reproductive, LGBTQIA+, civil, and human rights sent a letter to President Biden calling for immediate action to add the duly ratified Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the US Constitution by instructing the US Archivist to certify and publish it.
Representing a broad spectrum of advocacy groups focused on law, gender equality, civil rights, and social justice, the groups emphasized the critical need for the constitutional protection of the equality of rights under the law regardless of sex and gender.
The letter highlights decades of advocacy for the ERA, which was passed by Congress in 1972 and ratified by the required 38 states as of 2020. Despite this, procedural hurdles and political roadblocks have been utilized to prevent the amendment from being officially recognized as part of the Constitution.
“We must act now to affirm gender equality as a fundamental right in our US Constitution,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “The equity clock for action is ticking — the Equal Rights Amendment is not just a symbolic measure — it’s a necessary safeguard to ensure equal treatment and opportunities for all Americans.”
“The sheer number and diversity of the organizations that have come together to urge President Biden to publish the Equal Rights Amendment is a clear indication that the ERA is desperately needed to meet the moment,” said Nicole Vorrasi Bates, founder and executive director of Shattering Glass. “We simply cannot wait any longer. This is a time for immediate action, and we are counting on the President to get it done.”
The letter also speaks to the legal, medical, and advocacy community’s support for the ERA and the President’s legacy-defining opportunity to ensure its publication.
–Shannon Augustus LWVUS
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