All I Want for Christmas is the ERA

by Lili Gioia

President Biden has about 43 days left in office. Before he leaves the White House he must tell the Archivist of the United States to publish the EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. All the requirements for its adoption have been satisfied. They were achieved in 2020 when Virginia became the necessary 38th state to ratify the ERA, but then-president Trump refused to act.

It’s now been 101 YEARS since Alice Paul wrote the Equal Rights Amendment in one sentence, just 3 years after women won the right to vote in 1920. It says: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex.” Many Americans believe the Constitution already protects the rights of ALL citizens. No, it does not. And women’s rights are being stripped away to where they no longer have control over their own bodies in half the nation. Women still are paid less for the same work as men and experience pregnancy discrimination on the job.

The League of Women voters website has a sample letter you can sign on line urging President Biden to certify the ERA guaranteeing sex and gender equality in the Constitution NOW. The constitutionality of the ERA was supported last summer by an overwhelming vote of the American Bar Association. Women’s organizations across the nation, including the American Association of University Women, the National Federation of Business & Professional Women, the National Council of Jewish Women and many more are all supporting this ERA campaign to prevent even further erosion of gender equality when the Republicans control the Senate, House and White House in January. Under their Project 2025, not only is denying national access to abortion on the agenda, but also ending No-Fault Divorce.

46 U.S. Senators have already sent President Biden a letter urging him to move on the ERA’s adoption with urgency, but he needs to see an outpouring of public pressure. The holidays are busy for everybody, but please take time to call the White House (Tuesday through Thursdays the comment line is open). Please text, email, send a personal letter or postcard to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington D.C. I sent him a handwritten note last week and have also signed the League of Women Votes website letter. Time is of the essence.