Define: Equal Rights Amendment

The ERA is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would guarantee equal rights under the law regardless of sex.

The ERA was first proposed in 1923 and has been ratified by 38 states, the required number for it to become an amendment. However, there is ongoing debate about the validity of some states’ ratifications.

The ERA would guarantee equal rights for all citizens regardless of sex, including in areas such as employment, education, and healthcare.

The ERA is important because it would provide a constitutional basis for gender equality and ensure that laws and policies cannot discriminate on the basis of sex.

Some opponents argue that the ERA is unnecessary because existing laws already protect against sex discrimination, while others have concerns about its potential impact on issues such as abortion rights.

The ERA has not been officially added to the Constitution, and there are ongoing efforts to either ratify it in additional states or remove the ratifications of states that have since rescinded their support.

The ERA would require laws and policies to be reviewed and potentially revised to ensure they do not discriminate on the basis of sex.

The original deadline for ratifying the ERA was 1979, but this deadline has been extended multiple times. There is ongoing debate about whether the deadline is still valid.

The ERA’s language specifically addresses discrimination based on sex, which could have implications for LGBTQ+ rights and protections.

Individuals can support the ERA by contacting their elected representatives, participating in advocacy efforts, and raising awareness about the importance of gender equality.