Why Young Men in the US Should Pay Attention to and Advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment
July 31, 2024
We are sending you our sincerest hopes that you are weathering this pandemic and the restrictions it has brought to us all. A special meditation for the many who are grieving. Wishes for health, and thanks to our workers on the front lines in all capacities.
What has been exposed are the fault lines in our society: gender, race, wealth, health--and, clearly, access to health care and emergency income. For those who had not been considering how deeply we are separated by these things, here is a test unlike any other in recent history. Let's make a promise to remember what we saw when we're on the other side of this.
This year has been an extraordinary one for the Equal Rights Amendment! On January 27th, Virginia became the 38th and final state needed for ratification. On February 13th the House of Representatives dissolved the time limit in the introduction of the ERA. These are historic victories in the nearly century-long life of the ERA.
The ERA Coalition is hard at work through it all, now courtesy of Zoom meetings, phone calls, and a thousand or so emails--just like you all.
Coming up on April 27th, we will host our 4th Annual Campus ERA Day --this year totally virtual. It's a project we do with Hunter College, the Roosevelt Institute for Public Policy and its Grove Fellows. Let us know of any college students who may want to participate; please ask them to fill out the Campus ERA Day interest form.
Our congratulations to Virginia Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy, who successfully carried the ERA bill in the House of Delegates this year. She has announced she is running for Governor of Virginia! A major move. The ERA movement continues to deliver leaders to our country.
Our Lead Organization, Generation Ratify, is hosting a digital bootcamp starting on April 13th. Learn how to effectively digitally organize, build community online, and advocate for the ERA during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Many of you may know that the actor Cate Blanchett has produced and is starring in a multi-part series about anti-ERA activist Phyllis Schlafly. It premiers on FX on Hulu on April 15th and includes dramatic profiles of our board member Gloria Steinem (who has not seen it, was not consulted about it, nor involved in any way), Bella Abzug and Shirley Chisholm, some of our heroes of the fight for the ERA. While we have not seen any of the episodes, many of the reviews suggest that in the end, the ERA is now the winner.
Let us hope so. We've lost a lot of time, a lot of promise for girls and women in the time since it stalled. This time, equality will win.
Carol Jenkins
Co-President and CEO
ERA Coalition