Washington, D.C. — Today, President Joe Biden recognized the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as the 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, shared the following statement:
President Biden’s formal recognition of the Equal Rights Amendment as part of our Constitution is the perfect capstone to his legacy in support of the women of this country. He made clear, as did the American Bar Association, that the ERA has cleared all the required legal hurdles to become a permanent constitutional amendment.
The president swore an oath to our Constitution, and President Biden’s actions on the ERA today follow through on this obligation. The ERA has the potential to help prevent violence against women, restore our federal right to abortion care, and defend against attacks on LGBTQI+ Americans, introducing a pivotal tool in our tool belt to fight back against gender-based discrimination in courtrooms and legislatures across the country. Adding a prohibition against discrimination based on sex to our Constitution sets the stage for a more gender-equitable future. I commend President Biden for fulfilling his duty and making history. Now, our updated constitution has truly become the people’s Constitution—one in which women and LGTBQI+ people are recognized and protected as equals.
Related Resources:
“What Comes Next for the Equal Rights Amendment” by Isabela Salas-Betsch and Kate Kelly
“‘Women demand ‘deeds not words’: Joe Biden must enshrine the ERA in the Constitution” by Kate Kelly and Alyssa Milano
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sarah Nadeau at [email protected].