Roe v. Wade was Overturned 4 years ago

June 24 marks four years since the Dobbs decision overturned nearly 50 years of federal constitutional protection for reproductive freedom.

As we reflect on the consequences of that decision, we must also confront a larger reality: women’s rights and gender equality are facing unprecedented challenges across the United States.

Across the country, lawmakers continue to restrict reproductive healthcare, limit bodily autonomy, and undermine hard-won protections. These attacks are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader effort to roll back rights and freedoms that generations of advocates fought to secure.  For many women and girls, equality remains dependent on geography, politics, and access to resources. Fundamental rights should not change when you cross a state line.

That is why Zontians and equality advocates are raising our voices on June 24—not only to recognize how far women’s rights have been pushed backward, but to demand a future where equality is guaranteed for everyone.

Equality Belongs in the Constitution

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) states simply:

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

After more than a century of advocacy and decades of organizing, the ERA has met the constitutional requirements for ratification under Article V. In 2025, the American Bar Association adopted a resolution affirming that the ERA has satisfied the requirements to become part of the Constitution and should be recognized as the 28th Amendment.

Yet women and gender-expansive people across America still lack explicit constitutional protection against sex-based discrimination.

A federal ERA would establish a national foundation for equality, ensuring that rights cannot be stripped away by changing political winds or hostile legislatures. It would provide a powerful constitutional framework for challenging discrimination and protecting fundamental freedoms.

Pennsylvania Shows What Equality Can Do

The impact of constitutional equality is not theoretical.

Pennsylvania’s Equal Rights Amendment contains the same language as the federal ERA. In April 2026, a Pennsylvania court ruled that the state’s constitution protects a fundamental right to reproductive autonomy. Pennsylvania has also taken steps to protect healthcare providers and patients seeking reproductive healthcare services.

Pennsylvania demonstrates what becomes possible when equality is embedded in a constitution. Constitutional protections create a stronger foundation for defending rights and ensuring equal treatment under the law.

Imagine if those protections existed not just in one state, but across the entire nation.

We Cannot Afford to Be Silent

Many women are asking why their rights are not receiving greater attention at a moment when so many freedoms are under attack.

The answer is not to wait for someone else to lead.

• The answer is to organize.
• The answer is to educate.
• The answer is to advocate.

And the answer is to build a larger movement for equality.

For more than a century, Zonta has united advocates who believe women and girls deserve equal rights, equal opportunities, and lives free from violence and discrimination. Today, that mission is more urgent than ever.

Take Action Today

On this Dobbs Day, we invite you to take three simple actions:

• Sign the ERA Petition

Add your voice to the growing movement calling for Congress’s recognition and enforcement of the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution.  www.sign4era.org

• Become a Member of Zonta

Join a global network of advocates working to build a more equitable world for women and girls. Through education, advocacy, service, and leadership, Zontians create meaningful change in their communities and beyond.  Find your local club, a virtual “e-club” or become an independent member www.zonta.org/join

• Speak Up for Equality

Talk with your friends, family members, colleagues, and elected officials about why constitutional equality matters. Share facts. Share stories. Share hope.   Follow ZontaUSA and Sign4ERA on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky and spread the word. 

The Future Is Equal

Equality is not a special interest. It is not a partisan issue. It is a fundamental human right.

The women who fought for suffrage did not stop when progress seemed impossible. The advocates who advanced civil rights did not stop when obstacles appeared insurmountable. And those working for constitutional equality today cannot stop now.

On June 24, let us recommit ourselves to a future where equality is not dependent on geography, politics, or circumstance.

Let us make the promise of equal rights a reality for every person in every state.

Join the movement. Join Zonta. Sign the ERA petition. Stand for equality.