ERA Advocacy Needed Now

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) has successfully reached the required threshold of ratification by 38 states. Let’s work to bring an end to discrimination on the basis of sex by asking Senators Graham and Scott to support Senate Joint Resolution 6 (SJ Res 6) and eliminate the arbitrary ratification deadline on the ERA. Act now on behalf of women, who are 56% of the voting population in South Carolina and excessively impacted by COVID-19! There is no time limit on Equality!

Please write a letter to Senator Lindsey Graham (Chairman of US Senate Judiciary Committee) asking him to bring SJ Res 6 up for discussion in the Judiciary Committee and support it when he does. Please write a letter to Senator Tim Scott asking him to support SJ Res 6. 

Mail your letters to our senators at their local office addresses, supplied below. There may be a delay receiving mail in their DC offices due to COVID-19 since they have to go through special screening there. OR, hand deliver your letter to their local offices, get a photo of yourself doing so (with a mask on and socially distancing!), and post it on social media and tag us! @lwvcharleston #equalrightsamendment

Address your letters to:

Senator Lindsey Graham

530 Johnnie Dodds Blvd # 202

Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

Senator Tim Scott

2500 City Hall Lane

3rd Floor Suite

North Charleston, SC 29406

To assist you, we have included information below to help you compose your own letter.  

Start with: 

“I am writing as your constituent and as a voter" or for Senator Graham, who is up for election in November, “In this election year, as I evaluate issues that are important to me, I am writing to express my interest in your support for SJ Res 6.”

You may include any of the facts below:

Women in the United States do not have equal protection under law. While some progress has been made at both the state and federal level, laws are subject to interpretation and not universally applied. The Equal Rights Amendment would provide a fundamental legal remedy against sex discrimination for both women and men.

Or

Race and Religion are protected classes of citizenship that were amended to the U.S. Constitution because they have a history of being discriminated against. The history of discrimination against women, on the basis of sex, is well documented. That same remedy — an amendment to the Constitution — is needed to add “sex” as a protected category against discrimination.

Or

Equality of rights for women in the United States is not in the Constitution; it is merely a matter of legal interpretation. While existing laws do provide some protection, laws are subject to interpretation and revocation by whichever legislative body, court or administration is currently in power.

Or

In 2011, when asked if the U.S. Constitution protects against sex discrimination, Justice Antonin Scalia replied: “Certainly the Constitution does not require discrimination on the basis of sex. The only issue is whether it prohibits it. It doesn’t.” The Equal Rights Amendment is needed for that protection. 

Highlight how women are excessively impacted by COVID-19 by including some of this information:

Today, women are serving on the front lines of the war against COVID-19, but without the protection of equal rights. For every $1 a man makes, a woman makes between 40 and 80 cents depending on her race. Therefore, women are risking their lives for between 40-80 per cent pay.

Or

During this unprecedented time, when COVID-19 has threatened our health, safety, and livelihoods, we are reminded of the disproportionate and unique impact this virus has on women. There are massive layoffs happening for low-wage workers. Women make up nearly six in ten (58%) of workers in low-wage jobs that typically pay less than $11 per hour.

The occupations of personal care aides, food preparation and serving workers, registered nurses, and home health aides are women dominated workforces (at least 60%) and these workforces are being especially taxed right now. Not only are these jobs low paying, but jobs in the food service and home care industries are particularly likely to lack employer or union-based health insurance.

Or

During times of crisis, violence against women and girls escalates and many women will now be spending substantially more time at home with abusers. The inclusion of gender services in national responses and recovery plans would be a given if the ERA were already an amendment to the Constitution.

Finally, the letters will be more effective if they are not all alike; close your letter with something personal to you about how you have been impacted by inequality based on sex. Also, use your own phrases and connectives, such as:

"I strongly believe..."  
"It is widely agreed..."
"Clearly, we need to..."
"I'm counting on your support for making real changes very soon"
"I will be watching for your positive action on this"

To learn more about the ERA, visit:

• LWVUS ERA Toolkit 
• ERA Coalition website 
• Equal Means ERA website
  

Please share this information with your friends and neighbors. Encourage as many as possible to write. An outpouring of these letters will have a real impact!

Thank you!