Use your voice to make this happen

Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

By Laura Haight
President, DWGC

It is not exactly a surprise that women – regardless of race, ethnicity, or national background – are being marginalized, have had their rights taken away, and whose position in society (work and socially) is being diminished by laws and regulations that push us back to 1950 and beyond. 

It’s been 52 years since the Equal Rights Amendment was passed by Congress. Since then 38 states – the required majority – have passed legislation ratifying it. 

Since the final state, Virginia, ratified, there has been a controversy over the seven-year ratification deadline Congress added to the legislation – not the amendment itself. 

In the wake of this dispiriting election, it is all the more crucial that the rights of half the country be enshrined in the Constitution. The American Bar Association, The League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, the American Constitution Society, and 300 other organizations across the country all believe that the ERA has successfully been ratified and that the president – in one of his final acts in office – should direct the Archivist of the United States to ratify and publish the amendment to the Constitution. 

Democratic Women urges you to write a letter (see sample text below), sign onto the LWV petition to the president, or call the White House (202-456-1111) and leave your message (see talking points below) asking President Biden to take this action that legal scholars say is within his power and secure his legacy.

With the uncertainties of what the Trump Administration may bring, this may be our last chance to get this done. Please write (President Joe Biden, 1600 Pennsylvania Blvd., Washington, D.C. 20500) or call 202-456-1111 (and leave a message) today.

Sample Letter Text (LWV)

Dear President Biden, 

I urge you to direct the US Archivist to certify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), adding sex and gender equality to the Constitution once and for all. Final publication of the ERA is within your power, and it is time to secure your legacy. 

I appreciate your years of commitment to the fight for gender equality, including your legacy of authoring the Violence Against Women Act, as well as your Administration’s work to address gender-based violence and defend and expand reproductive rights and health care access. In recent years, we have seen how quickly our rights can be stripped away and our nation’s progress overturned. We cannot take a single liberty for granted, and we cannot wait to take this vital step. 

Your White House has repeatedly spoken about enshrining the principle of gender equality in our Constitution. Mr. President, you have that power. 

In your remaining time in office, I implore you to instruct the Archivist to certify the Equal Rights Amendment and with that, unequivocally define your legacy as a lifelong champion for equal rights. 

The future of our democracy depends on it.

Your Name

(include your address, state and zip; and an email address – this is guidance from the National Archives.)

Talking Points

• Enshrining the legal basis for gender equality in the Constitution should be an important part of President Biden’s legacy. 
• Globally, 168 countries have guaranteed women’s equality in their constitution. The United States has no such guarantee.
• This action must happen before President Biden’s term ends January 20, 2025. See President Biden’s position on the ERA here.
• This is more important than ever because Donald Trump has been re-elected President. During his first term, his administration took away important protections for women and blocked the ERA from being added to the Constitution. President Biden now has the power to correct that.