U.S. House of Representatives Moves To Advance Long Overdue Equal Rights Amendment
For Immediate Release: March 17, 2021
Washington, DC — Today, the United States House of Representatives once again voted to eliminate the deadline for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which prohibits discrimination based on sex. This action is part of a decades-old battle for equality: The Equal Rights Amendment was passed by Congress in 1972. Lawmakers then recognized the need to legally value and protect people’s health, rights, and ambitions equally, regardless of their gender. This pressing need remains today.
Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president & CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
“We are all equal members of society, regardless of our gender — and it’s long past time our Constitution reflects that. Planned Parenthood strongly supports efforts to enshrine women’s equality in the Constitution. The Equal Rights Amendment is an important tool for strengthening the existing legal foundation created by the courts. We know an equal society cannot exist unless all people have the right to make their own decisions, plan their own futures, and control their own bodies. And we know the fight for reproductive rights — including access to abortion — is inextricably linked to the fight for women’s equality.”
According to the World Economic Forum, none of us will see gender parity in our lifetimes if current policies remain in place, and most likely, neither will many of our children. We must close gaps across education, pay, political representation, and more, in order to build a truly just society. The Equal Rights Amendment is an important part of the solution.
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.