AAUW of Virginia Summer Leadership Conference July 28, 2018 ERA in Virginia Today AAUW of Virginia Summer Leadership Conference July 28, 2018

Quick history Originally written by Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman in 1921 Congress passed in 1972 Requires two-thirds of the states to ratify (38 states) 35 states ratified almost immediately 2017 Nevada ratified #36 2018 Illinois ratified #37 Failed in Virginia 2018 General Assembly Senate Rules Committee – Ryan McDougle cited an “archivist” saying it wasn’t relevant House P&E Committee – Mark Cole refused to put it on the agenda

What really happened in the 2018 Virginia General Assembly?

WE HAD THE VOTES! House Assigned to the Privileges and Elections Committee 51 of 100 Delegates signed on as patrons Others would have supported it in a floor vote Senate Assigned to the Senate Rules Committee 20 of 40 Senators signed on as patrons Others would have supported it in a floor vote

February 9, 2018 House Assigned to the Privileges and Elections Committee Committee Chair, Mark Cole refused to put it on the agenda Delegate Sam Rasoul (Roanoke) formally asked to have it put on the agenda and was rebuffed Senate Assigned to the Senate Rules Committee On the agenda for February 9 Committee Chair, Ryan McDougle said that “an official at the National Archives and Records Administration, advised him that the ERA is a ‘failed amendment’ and therefore improper for the General Assembly to vote on it.”  The Archivist of the United States, however, later stated by letter that he had not taken this stance. Crowd insisted on a vote by the committee and forced a show of hands vote

What’s new?

Virginia Attorney General’s Opinion Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring Asked by Honorable Richard H. Black, Member, Senate of Virginia Opinion 18-006 May 11, 2018 “The General Assembly may still pass a resolution ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the United States Constitution despite the lapse of the ERA’s ratification period.  Congress has substantial power over the process for amending the Constitution and may choose to further extend the ERA’s ratification deadline and recognize as valid a State’s intervening ratification for purposes of determining whether the ERA has been approved by the requisite number of States.”

One State to 38 Virginia !

Planning for 2019

What’s different? Focus on Republican support Focus on more men’s support Virginia Ratify ERA (VAratifyERA) Campaign Calling on Illinois expertise Support from inside and outside the state Women’s Equality Day Sunday, August 26, 2018 Resolutions to drop Press releases Iron Jawed Angels to be shown around the state Second Event Save the Date for November 18, 2018

Listing will be on the varatifyera.org website Iron Jawed Angels Legislator Hosted Richmond Byrd Theatre Roanoke Grandin Theatre Alexandria/Mt. Vernon Bethlehem Baptist Loudoun County Freedom H.S. (tentative) Prince William First Zion Baptist Possibly… Petersburg Charlottesville Virginia Beach Harrisonburg or… Your home or library? Listing will be on the varatifyera.org website

Talking Points

3 Questions Were women granted equality when the United States Constitution was written in the 18th Century? A: No (Anyone thinking ‘Yes” should sign up for remedial American History) So when was it added? A: The ONE right granted to women was ratified in 1920. The 19th Amendment guarantees the right to vote. That is the only constitutional right that women have. Why is it needed? A: Prohibits state and federal action that discriminates on the basis of sex. Gives Congress constitutional authority to enact legislation in furtherance of equal treatment under the law.

If you are used to privilege, equality feels like oppression

AAUW – What can you do? Discussion

Involvement Contact your State Senator and State Delegate and confirm that they will vote to ratify when it gets to the floor or to their committee Find your representatives at http://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/ Attend a showing of Iron Jawed Angels on August 26th -OR- Host your own showing in a home or library

Addition Involvement Join AAUW’s 2-minute activist BUILD AWARENESS IN PUBLIC PLACES Wear pins, display yard signs SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR PASS A LOCAL RESOLUTION HOLD A POSTCARD WRITING PARTY MEET WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

Contacts Patricia (Trish) Wallace Jane Newell VAratifyERA Campaign AAUW of Greater Richmond Public Policy trxlaw@gmail.com Jane Newell AAUW of Greater Richmond Finance Officer Jane.newell@comcast.net VAratifyERA Campaign Website: www.varatifyera.org Facebook: VAratifyERA Twitter: #varatifyera Who is my legislator? whosmy.virginiageneralas sembly.gov/

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. 19th Amendment The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. The Congress shall have the power by appropriate legislation to enforce the provisions of this article.

Yard Sign Raffle Drawing 2 ERA Yard Signs