I am a woman living in a time when my rights and protections, and those of the LGBTQ+ community among many others, are being challenged. As we approach a new presidential election, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of fully implementing the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Virginia recently became the 38th state to ratify the ERA, marking a critical milestone in this journey. However, full ratification is still pending.

Our political landscape has witnessed an unfortunate rollback of rights. This is concerning for the progression of our society. The ERA will provide a foundational guarantee of equality under the law regardless of gender, a critical basis for a more just nation. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the ERA would firmly establish legal gender equality and be a significant defense against rollbacks on specific rights and protections (ACLU, 2020).

The need for the ERA is more urgent than ever. We must secure our rights in the fabric of our constitution. Women still face significant injustices today; as of 2023, women in the United States earned only 84 cents for every dollar earned by men, with even greater disparities for women of color (National Women's Law Center, 2023). When implemented, the ERA will have a profound impact, extending far beyond women and the LGBTQ+ community, transforming the United States into a beacon of justice for all its citizens.

Let's make history together. Sign this petition, and accelerate the full ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.