'Me too' movement renews Equal Rights Amendment push

[DonViejo]

Source: USA Today




Nicole Gaudiano, USA TODAY Published 7:00 a.m. ET Nov. 18, 2017 | Updated 7:12 a.m. ET Nov. 18, 2017

WASHINGTON — Equal Rights Amendment advocates think this could be their moment.

As women increasingly come forward with stories of sexual assault and harassment, advocates are seeing the “me too” movement as an opportunity to renew their push for Constitutional protections against sexual discrimination.

“If you ever feel like you don’t think that we need to have some changes, I’m going to just say two words to you: Harvey Weinstein,” Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., said Friday, naming the Hollywood producer accused by dozens of women of rape, assault and harassment. “The only way we’re protected is to have ironclad protection in the United States Constitution. Is it so challenging to say that women and men should have equality of opportunity, equality of protection under the law?”

Women with “ERA YES” signs led by Maloney gathered in New York Friday in one of the first public events linking the scandals involving Hollywood, Congressional and newsroom leaders to the call for an ERA. They urged Mayor Bill de Blasio to keep Wall Street's iconic “Fearless Girl” statue in place until an ERA is ratified.



Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/11/18/me-too-movement-renews-equal-rights-amendment-push/875903001/

[Hortensis]

1. Well, I've supported it as long as it's existed, but really?

I would much prefer to see that energy turned to insisting on addressing any of a dozen huge, immediately critical issues that are harming people and going to harm far more.

There's a saying that when you're in a hole you stop digging. But another part of that is that it's not the very best time to decide to go swimming, fly a kite, take up knitting, etc. It's time to get out.

[samnsara]

2. ERA YES!

[BigmanPigman]

3. Phyllis Schlafly died a year ago but

I just saw her son on TV yesterday defending Moore and I thought of her. She is the reason why we have no ERA! I hope she is reincarnated as an ironing board since it is old school, basic female equipment needed to be a real woman in her sick and twisted mind.

[stuffmatters]

4. This revelatory moment must bring women passage of The ERA. Finally.

The abuse of women is clearly omnipresent. And, as we've always argued, women do not have the full protections under the Constitution extended to race,religion, national origin. Any legislator who does not vote to facilitate & pass the Equal Rights Amendment for Women pretty much indicates to the public that they do NOT believe in equal rights (and equal protections under the Constitution) for all women.

I started marching for the Equal Rights Amendment in NYC in the early 70's. So my entire adult life I've watched this legislation be defeated by Republican propaganda, bull shit evasions and just outright RW Fundamentalist zealotry ag. women.

It is high time and the right time to get the ERA passed. The plantation mentality of the Republican Party is the most vulnerable it has been in my adult lifetime. Now the vast exposure of the sexual abuse of women has made this a bipartisan outrage.

It appears that the ERA just needs an extension of the deadline vote from Congress(Cardin's bill) and ratification of two more states. This is not a heavy lift..

Mahoney is right. The time is now. If we do not utilize this historical moment to push the ERA over the finish line, then I fear women will never have equal protection under the Constitution.

[PoliticAverse]

5. "the ERA just needs an extension of the deadline vote from Congress" - the original ERA failed...

to receive ratification by the (then extended) deadline and further court action on the matter was declared moot.

3. On June 30, 1982, the extended period for ratifying the Amendment expired. The Administrator informs us that no state transmitted a ratification of the Amendment during the period after the original expiration date of March 22, 1979. Congress has not passed any additional extension.

Consequently, the Amendment has failed of adoption no matter what the resolution of the legal issues presented here, and the Administrator informs us that he will not certify to Congress that the Amendment has been adopted. Even if all the ratifications remain valid, the rescissions are disregarded, and Congress is conceded the power to extend the ratification period as it did here, only 35 of the necessary states can be regarded as having ratified the Amendment. If appellee-respondents were to prevail on all issues, fewer than 35 states would be counted as having ratified the Amendment, and the Amendment would be regarded having failed of adoption in March 1979. But the date on which the proposed Amendment failed of adoption, and the extent to which it fell short of the necessary three-fourths of the states, do not affect the legally cognizable interests of any party.

[stuffmatters]

7. Given the article's contents, Nevada's 2017 ratification, and Cardin,Maloney, Speier renewal pushs

to extend the deadline, I am more optimistic than you.

[PoliticAverse]

8. Even given the current composition of the Supreme Court, which would be the ultimate decider? n/t

[murielm99]

6. That's why my husband was talking about this today.

I wondered why he was bringing this up.