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Constitutional Equality

EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT:

Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

Florida NOW passed at its January 2003 meeting a resolution reapplying organizational resources to win ratification of the ERA in Florida. Since then, we have continuously engaged in a multi-faceted campaign, including lobbying of the Legislature, hosting Rallies in Tallahassee, garnering support of like-minded organizations, and letter-writing.

 

CHECK OUT PHOTOS:  from some of our RALLY IN TALLY days.

• Linda Miklowitz addresses the crowd.
• Bill Sponsor Representative Arthenia Joyner
• Emily Browne from Judy Levy NOW in the foreground
• NOW members love a good rally!

ARTICLES:

• WHY WE NEED THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
• Why Florida Needs an ERA
• “Women's Less Than Full Equality Under The U.S. Constitution”
  by Patricia Ireland
  

CURRENT ACTIVITIES:

• What you can do:
  Contact your City or County Commission to get them to support the ratification of the ERA. Sample resolution.
  
  
• What you can do:
  Get your other civic organizations to sign on, and work for, the ERA.
  
  
• What you can do:
  Gather signatures for an advertisement to be placed in your local paper.
  
  
• What you can do:
  Write letters to the Editor to your local paper. See sample below.
  
  
• What you can do:
  Contact your local Representatives and Senators to be a co-sponsor of the ERA.
  

SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Dear Editor:

Just 35 of 38 states required have ratified the Equal Rights Amendment. The 27th Amendment penned by James Madison and ratified 203 years later shows that there is no deadline for ratification. The ERA would enable courts to give strict scrutiny to sex discrimination complaints. Ironically, some of the more unjust cases in the last 20 years have involved men, so the ERA is good for everyone.

Urge your legislators to ratify the concurrent resolutions that have been filed again this year in the Florida State Senate and House.

Thank you,

©2007 Florida National Organization For Women. All rights reserved. Voice Mail Number: 1888-5-FLANOW or 1-888-535-2669 Florida NOW President Jessica McCaffrey

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