The language of the 1972 Equal Rights Amendment as ratified by 35 states:
Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Section 3. This article shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.
Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo counties) introduced H.J. Res. 51, a joint resolution that will remove the deadline and allow for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment by three more states. Her press release includes a quote from NOW President, Terry O’Neill.
Those advocating for the bill are only concerned with protecting hateful and intolerant religious zealots and completely unconcerned with how this potential discrimination will infringe on the rights of other people, namely the LGBTQIA community, children, domestic violence victims and others.
Samantha Lachman writes for The Huffington Post: “The fate of a bill calling for Virginia to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution remains in flux after the state Senate’s Republican leadership undid a successful vote on the matter Tuesday in retribution for Democratic action on an unrelated bill.”
2014 has been a busy year for NOW! Our grassroots activists have been hard at work, refusing to stay silent as conservatives attempt to deny women their rights. From Alaska to Louisiana, New York to Texas, Rhode Island to Missouri, activists across the country are standing up for women! Activists started off 2014 by celebrating Read more …
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