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

2. 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

3. What really happened in the 2018 Virginia General Assembly?

4. 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

5. 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

6. What’s new?

7. Virginia Attorney General’s Opinion
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring Asked by Honorable Richard H. Black, Member, Senate of Virginia Opinion 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.”

8. One State to 38
Virginia !

9. Planning for 2019

10. 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

11. 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

12. Talking Points

13. 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 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.

14. If you are used to privilege, equality feels like oppression

15. AAUW – What can you do?
Discussion

16. 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
Attend a showing of Iron Jawed Angels on August 26th
-OR-
Host your own showing in a home or library

17. 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

18. Contacts Patricia (Trish) Wallace Jane Newell VAratifyERA Campaign
AAUW of Greater Richmond Public Policy
Jane Newell
AAUW of Greater Richmond Finance Officer
VAratifyERA Campaign
Website:
Facebook: VAratifyERA
Twitter: #varatifyera
Who is my legislator?
whosmy.virginiageneralas sembly.gov/

19. 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.

20. Yard Sign Raffle Drawing
2 ERA Yard Signs