22222222Why We’re Still Fighting for the Equal Rights Amendment

Over 100 years ago, Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman introduced the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), a constitutional guarantee that “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex.” In 2020, Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the ERA, meeting the requirement for the 28th Amendment. So why is it still not part of the U.S. Constitution?

The excuse by our opponents for the holdup comes from a time limit imposed by Congress when it first passed the ERA in 1972. Despite overwhelming public support and legal experts’ analysis that the time limit shouldn’t stand in the way, the ERA has yet to be officially published. We’re closer than ever, but the final steps remain frustratingly out of reach.

What’s at stake

Publication of the Equal Rights Amendment would expand legal protections in crucial areas, including:

• Pay equity: Ensuring equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender.
• Employment: Strengthening protections against workplace discrimination.
• Reproductive health: Safeguarding rights over reproductive choices and access to care.
• Violence against women: Enhancing legal tools to combat gender-based violence.
• Financial services and housing: Preventing discrimination in lending and housing opportunities.

Our ongoing efforts include urging Congress and the Executive Branch, particularly the Department of Justice and U.S. Archivist, to ensure the Equal Rights Amendment’s rightful place in the Constitution. The fight for equality is far from over, and we need your support to push this across the finish line.

Join us in advocating for the ERA—because equality shouldn’t have a time limit.

Watch our video to learn more about the ERA’s history and what’s next in the fight for full legal equality.