Men and women in America are not equal under the law. While legislation enacted over the past century have provided some protection for women's rights, we are just one Congressional vote or Supreme Court decision away from the weakening or even complete removal of these protections.

Fortunately for women all over the country, the Equal Rights Amendment, introduced again in the House earlier this year, can fix all that. The ERA would make it illegal for the US government or any state to discriminate against anyone on account of their sex. This historic amendment has been in the works for 86 years, and it is just a crucial today as it was when it was first written by Alice Paul in 1923.

But forces opposed to gender equality are fighting a hard battle. Those who long to take women out of the workplace and force them back in the kitchen are ready to launch an assault on our members of Congress, attempting to convince them to vote against the ERA again. We have too much at stake to let that happen.

Tell your member of Congress that 86 years is long enough. We need the Equal Rights Amendment now.

photo: stevebott