By: Nancy Werner
NFBPWC Advocacy Team ERA Lead (2022-2026) 

EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT – Updates around the United States 

Advocacy –Equal Rights Amendment. “Equality of rights under the law shall not  

be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex” needs  

to be placed into our Constitution. While most states have laws prohibiting  

discrimination of any kind based on sex, proponents of the E.R.A. say laws can be  

reversed or eliminated. Having a Constitutional Amendment would cement those  

rights.  

May I again applaud the NFBPWC for the Women’s Equality Day-August 24,  

2024. It was an extraordinary event for our organization. Kathy Telban, Ohio, created this event by finding 3 outstanding speakers on the Equal Rights Amendment. With the help of Emily  VanVleck, our Vice President of Advocacy and NFBPWC President Barbara Bozeman, it was an informative  and inspiring zoom webinar. We heard from Tina Cassidy, author, of Mr. President, How Long Must We Wait,  to Wendy J. Murphy, Esq. who has provided us with the history of the ERA in Congress and what she has  done to bring it in front of our judicial system and then to Kamala Lopez, who wrote and directed the video  called Equal Means Equal.  

But on August 26, 2024, the National Women’s History Alliance presented their version of Equality Day with  speakers such as Incoming Director Dr. Jill Zinckgraf, President Martha Wheelock, and Molly MacGregor.  Starting back to 1985, they shared what their work has presented and provided to the story of women’s  suffrage. 

But now let’s do an overview of the work of pushing the ERA to be our 28th Amendment. Let’s start with  Carolyn Maloney, President of the NY NOW group, who has made the “Equality Bus” a traveling ERA  promoter. She is working on the needed U.S. Representatives of New York and one in PA to sign on to the  House Bill. She was just in lower Bucks County, PA, trying to get Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick to sign on. As of this  date, Fitzpatrick will not budge. But this is where persistence is the key to our efforts. He is running for reelection. 

Now the ERA Coalition is having some trouble working together. Although they meet once a month, the time  spent together needs to be more productive. Hoping their upcoming meeting will provide us with more  direction. Everyone who attends wishes to do something to help. 

But we are learning about a group called red, wine and blue that is hitting our PA Commonwealth with energy  and enthusiasm. They provide many interesting programs on zoom. The dynamics is awesome. But to get  them as a speaker for our PA Affiliate is on the backburner as they are in DEMAND. 

We have the best news that Feminist Unfinished just finished a week in front of the White House portraying  the Sentinels of the early century. I don’t wish to take anything away from Pattie Rayl of Michigan for she and  2 friends were able to participate. They drove to Washington D.C., were able to stay at the headquarters of the  group, stand for a few hours with their signs and for a few days. I will ask Patti to share what the experience  was like for our next issue. How exciting for Patti and her friends to be part of this event!  

Then we have the Alice Paul House who threw a huge gala on Thursday night, September 26, at the  Constitution Center, Philadelphia. Accolades were given to all who have helped with the work of Alice Paul  and to all the students who are attending their leadership academies. So proud that we took the time to visit  both the Alice Paul House and the Constitutional Center during our Biennial Conference in July. I feel that we  are right there in the center of our ERA framework. 

We also heard about the U.S. Bar Association insisting that the ERA has passed and should be in the U.S.  Constitution. But what about this declaration? 

During this Presidential Campaign, I have heard nothing about the ERA specifically. Nothing during the  Debate. Nothing from the Candidates. Why is it not being addressed?

Now one of our fellow members is Linda Wilson, CA member. Quite the historian of our NFBPWC and many  historical facts. Now she and I have discussed what is the best way to place the ERA into the Constitution.  Take a look at the history of the 27 other amendments and all have come through our Congressional process.  

I love my Pennsylvania. I am working like I never have before in this Presidential race. Never seen working at  the polls as a might, it is now a must. Participating in the phone banks for the candidates who will support  our women’s rights is another must. Every day we hear Pennsylvania is the deciding state of this upcoming  election sure is pressure. I remember 2016 and so do many of you. May I challenge you to do the same work  in some form or another for this election?  

Follow up 

Don’t forget Kamala is promoting the “Final Impact.” She would like us all to take a photo as we talk on the  phone and send it to the following address. https://finalimpact.org/All the information that you need can  be found at this site. 

SIGN4ERA – May I encourage you AGAIN to take the time RIGHT NOW to sign onto this link:  http://www.sign4ERA.org. When you visit this site, there is much information given to you. Take time to  read all the interesting articles. Need a program? Just take time to read and prepare. 

And never forget to keep in touch with your U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators using the NFBPWC “One  Click.”