WASHINGTON — Today, 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.
Organizations signing the letter include:
League of Women Voters of the United States
Shattering Glass
National
Advancement Project
All In Action Fund
American Association of University Women
American Constitution Society
American Humanist Association
American Medical Women’s Association
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
By The Women For The Women Vote
Catholics for Choice
Center for American Progress
Center for Common Ground
The Christian Left
Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues
Combat Sexual Assault
DemCast USA
Democracy Labs
Democrats Abroad
Democrats for Change (DemocratsFor.US)
Doctors for America
Elizabeth Cady Stanton Trust
End Rape On Campus
EQUAL MEANS EQUAL
Equality Now
ERA Coalition
Faiths for Safe Water
Family Values @ Work Action
The Feminist Front
The Feminist Uprising
Feminists in Struggle
Few and Far Women
Free Speech For People
Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation (FCCP)
Generation Vote
Get Free
GLAAD
GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality
Green Alliance for Sex-Based Rights
Guttmacher Institute
Impact Fund
Indivisible
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Women International
Justice and Joy National Collaborative
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement
Lawyers For Good Government
Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund
Medical Students for Choice
Military & Veterans Women’s Coalition
Modern Military Association of America
Moms First
MomsRising
Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc.
MoveOn
Muslims for Progressive Values
National Association of Women Lawyers
National Black Justice Collective
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Coalition on Black Civic Participation/ Black Women’s Roundtable
National Consumers League
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Negro Women
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
National Education Association
National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs
National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund
National Network for Arab American Communities
National Organization for Women
National Women’s Political Caucus
Nurses for America
Patient Care Heroes
People Power United
ProgessiveChristianity.org
The Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC United)
Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA)
SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change
Strike for America
Survivor Justice Action
Take Back Christianity
Training in Early Abortion for Comprehensive Healthcare (TEACH)
Trans Empowerment Project
Trans Formations Project
UltraViolet Action
United Church of Christ
Vote For Your Daughter
VoteEquality
Voters of Tomorrow
Women in Medicine, Inc.
Women Lawyers On Guard Action Network, Inc.
The Workers Circle
The Young Feminist Party
Zetas in Action
Zonta USA Caucus
State/Local
10000 Women Louisiana
Abortion Action Missouri
AccessMatters
Alice Paul Center for Gender Justice
American Medical Women’s Association Georgia Physicians
Appleton Area NOW (WI)
Arizona Center for Women’s Advancement
Between the Waters
Business and Professional Women Federation of North Carolina
The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
Cambridge Reproductive Health Consultants
Central Phoenix Inez Casiano NOW
ERA Minnesota
ERA Ohio
ERA Task Force Arizona
ERA-NC Alliance
Good Trouble WNC
Green Party of McKean County, PA
Indiana Women’s Action Movement
Indivisible Evanston
Indivisible Lincoln Square
Indivisible Marin
Indivisible Virginia
Medical Students for Choice – Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine Chapter
National Council of Jewish Women Arizona
National Organization For Women – New Jersey
Nevada NOW
Nevadans for the ERA
North Carolina National Organization for Women (NC NOW)
NOVA NCNW Section Social Justice Committee
NOW – Akron Ohio Chapter
Ohio Federation of Business and Professional Women
Ohio NOW
PA Religious Coalition for Reproductive Justice
Pittsburgh Pride Group
Pro-Choice North Carolina
Proud Haven
Reproductive Justice Maryland
Reynolds Family Foundation
Saratoga Caucus for Reproductive Rights
TransYOUniting
Wild West Access Fund of Nevada
Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Women Employed
Women’s Forum of North Carolina
Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts
Women’s Health Specialists
Women’s Law Project
Women4Change Indiana
Read the letter here.
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