Join Us in Pushing for Equal Rights: Help Get the ERA Published! No time to waste.

Dear Friends of Women’s Rights: (I’ve been asked what actions we can take to help protect rights while we still can)

I’ve composed the letter below that you can share widely among your political and community and even social networks. What we really need are large organizations, Political heavyweights, Influencers, and Power brokers to get the message to President Biden that the ERA is an important legacy action that he MUST take. The ERA is something he has worked on his entire career since he started in the Senate. With the powers that SCOTUS has given the Presidency, he can take the action to direct publication of the ERA. Yes, it will be litigated, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t take this BOLD and important action.

Also valuable: A chorus of public voices and having the ERA as a core message for upcoming planning for Women’s marches across the country, but by the time of those planned marches, Jan. 21, it will be too late. POTUS, and possibly even congress, need to act in the next 60 days. The ERA coalition is still working on the political strategy, but we are certain among all the member organizations, that adding to our numbers, adding to our voices and coalescing around enshrining Equal Rights is the essential work.

That is how you can help. Please share within zonta, and especially outside of Zonta. Action is the Antidote to despair. Feel free to remove my name from this, and use your own.

Katherine

**********CUT OUT THE ABOVE and use the copy below TO SEND THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR PARTNERS, COLLABORATORS, COLLEAGUES, AND LEADERSHIP OUTSIDE OF ZONTA *******

Dear Partners in Protecting Women and LGBTQ+ Rights,

I recently spoke with the ERA Coalition, and now, we’re mobilizing our advocates nationwide to harness their connections, political influence, and communication networks to achieve one critical goal: securing permanent protections through the publication of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

Our Ask: Who Can You Connect With?
Please consider reaching out to key contacts and influencers who can directly support or urge the President to publish the ERA. Think broadly and strategically. Here are a few suggestions:

Governors or Governor Associations
State Legislative Associations, ABA associations, Mayors and County Elected leaders
Unions and Associations
Reproductive Rights Organizations (e.g., Planned Parenthood, NARAL)
Political Leaders at all levels
Groups Focused on Domestic Violence, Marriage Equality, Women’s Rights, LGBTQ+ Rights, Civil Rights, and Human Rights
Any Other Influential Allies who could help amplify this movement

Let’s rally our networks and build a robust movement to secure a Constitutional protection for equal rights.

Why Now? The Background
For over a decade, the ERA Coalition—representing hundreds of organizations, including NOW, AAUW, AFL-CIO, Women’s March, and others—has been leading a revived push for the ERA. Here’s what we know:

The ERA has met all legal requirements to be the 28th Amendment under Article V of the Constitution.
Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the ERA in 2020, achieving the threshold required.
The artificial deadline is widely viewed as non-binding by legal experts.

In support of this, the American Bar Association recently passed a resolution reaffirming that Article V of the Constitution does not allow ratification deadlines and that states cannot rescind their ratification votes. The ABA’s legal community, along with federal, state, and tribal governments, are urging action.

Our Call to Action: Time Is of the Essence
With just 60 days, we need every voice, large and small, advocating through every available channel to ensure equal rights are constitutionally protected.

Please Act:

Join the ERA Coalition as an individual and from your organization.
Spread the Word across your networks.
Message POTUS personally email at www.Whitehouse.gov,
Call Comments: 202-456-1111
Text Biden at 302-404-0880
Send a Postcard, The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Sign the petition to message Congress to act Today. at www.sign4era.org
- Your email is requested so that you can be included on follow up actions.

Together, we can make history. Let’s act now to enshrine equal protection in our Constitution.

Thank you for standing with Women, and LGBTQ folks.

Signed: YOU personally, your Club, Your District.

Katherine Cleland, ERA lead, Zonta USA

Social Media Memes you can use

right click and download, or follow @zontausa, @eracoaltion and @sign4era and like, comment and share

Send Joe a Postcard! Club Project

We are so thankful that you are joining Vote Equality and others to send a strong message to President Biden DEMANDING the PUBLICATION of our 28th Amendment- the Equal Rights Amendment- in our United States Constitution.
It really takes 1 phone call.📲 Yes, 1 phone call to the Archivist to PUBLISH the ERA. President Biden doesn’t need the approval of Congress or voters. Americans already did that in 2020 and the American Bar Association agrees. (If you are one of those who likes to get in the weeds check out their statement  here.)
THE ASK:
First, send a postcard to 5 friends? Don’t be shy! Write your own message or use the script below.
* Second, 📫  write to President Biden telling him to PUBLISH EQUALITY IN OUR CONSTITUTION and mail it on December 10th, 2024 (the 101st 😱 anniversary of when ERA was originally introduced to Congress). The League of Women Voters is heading up this work so don’t be alarmed when the link sends you to their webpage!

*Looking to score extra points for equality? Write an OpEd to your community letting them know we are ONE STEP away from fixing the gender gap in our US Constitution. You can take a peek at our FAQs here

As an FYI- You can print this easy to use postcard at home or send it for a large order at Staples.
We (and your fellow ERA Americans) appreciate whatever you have the capacity to do.

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions.

Jess
—
Jess Kujala
Program Coordinator, VoteEquality