Happy New Year to each of you! We hope that everyone had a warm and fulfilling holiday season.
We are very excited for 2020! It is going to be an active year, full of celebrations of 100 years of women's voting rights since the 19th Amendment was ratified on August 26, 1920.
We are now officially only days away from the reconvening of the General Assembly in Virginia on January 8, 2020. We continue to monitor the situation to see when state legislators in that state will bring the Equal Rights Amendment up for a vote. It currently anticipated that the ERA will be brought for a vote on the senate floor within the first two weeks of the session, possibly as early as January 14, 2020. As of today, it is unknown when the House will bring the ERA up for a vote. We'll keep you updated!
You can also keep tabs on what VARatify is doing on their website, which you can visit HERE.
For those of you following the legislation in Congress to remove the original deadline assigned to the ERA, here is a quick update. In the House of Representatives, a total of 224 co-sponsors have signed on to H.J. Res 79. The sister bill in the Senate, S.J. Res 6, added another 14 members signed on as co-sponsors to bring the total up to 33. See below in the "Call to Action" section for more information on how you can help.
CALL TO ACTION:
VALENTINE'S DAY CAMPAIGN!
We are taking a page from Alice Paul’s playbook and sending “I (Heart) the ERA” Valentine’s postcards to elected officials.
Send a "Thank You!" to congresspeople who have signed on in support, or send a "ERA Valentine" to encourage representatives who have not yet signed on in support.
In their fight for women's suffrage, Alice Paul and the National Woman's Party sent "Valentine's" to the men elected to Congress. The tactic helped keep the issue at the forefront of conversation, and was one of many that Alice Paul employed to advance the 19th Amendment. Join us for a night of fun social activism in the fight for gender equality.
We're inviting ERA advocates across the country to join the campaign! Here are a few ways that you can join the fun:
1) Host a “I (Heart) the ERA” Valentine’s postcard writing party!
Order some pre-printed postcards from the ERA Toolkit, and invite your friends and send a Valentine to the list of officials we've selected and/or your local and state officials.
2) Download the "I (Heart) the ERA" social media squares and banner and share, share, share!
3) Download the postcard designs (front and back) and print your own to send to your elected officials.
The social media hashtags we're using are:
#ilovetheera
#ERAnow
#RatifyERA
If you are in the Philadelphia region, please join us for a FREE public post-card writing party at the Alice Paul Institute on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 from 6pm-8pm. More information can be found HERE . Hosted by API's Advocacy Committee, refreshments will be served.
The ERA Coalition is asking for our support to increase pressure on U.S. Senators to advance SJ Res 6 , the legislation that will remove the original deadline from the ERA. Introduced by Sen. Ben Cardin (MD), more co-sponsors are needed to advance the bill.
The following Senators have been selected for focused attention. If you are in these states, please call and email the office contacts (info below). Please also share with your friends, family, and colleagues who live in these states so they can also advocate for their Senators to sign onto the bill as co-sponsors.
ALASKA:
Sen. Dan Sulllivan (R): (202) 224-3004, David Pigue, david_pigue@sullivan.senate.gov
ARIZONA:
Sen. Martha McSally (R): (202) 224-2235, Pace McMullan, pace_mcmullan@mcsally.senate.gov
COLORADO:
Sen. Cory Gardner (R): (202) 224-5941, Brian Wanamaker, brian_wanamaker@gardner.senate.gov
HAWAII:
Sen. Brian Schatz (D): (202) 224-3934, Trelaine Ito, trelaine_ito@schatz.senate.gov
IOWA:
Sen. Joni Ernst (R): (202) 224-3254, Corey Becker, corey_becker@ernst.senate.gov
ILLINOIS:
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D): (202) 224-2854,Edward Edney, edward_edney@duckworth.senate.gov
OHIO:
Sen. Rob Portman (R): (202) 224-3353, Megan Harrington, megan_harrington@portman.senate.gov
MASSACHUSETTS:
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D): (202)-224-4543, Stephanie Akpa, stephanie_akpa@warren.senate.gov
NEW MEXICO:
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D): (202) 224-5521, Simon Boyce, simon_boyce@heinrich.senate.gov
OHIO:
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D): (202)-224-2315, Shomari Figures, shomari_figures@brown.senate.gov
WASHINGTON:
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D): (202)-224-0514, Jonathan Hale, jonathan_hale@cantwell.senate.gov
Sen. Patty Murray (D): (202)-224-2621, Jason Smith, jason_smith@murray.senate.gov
WISCONSIN:
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D): (202)-224-5653, Brian Moulton brian_moulton@baldwin.senate.gov
Now onto the news:
NATIONAL:
Dec. 20 After Nearly a Century, 2020 May Usher in the Equal Rights Amendment, Truthout
Dec. 20 ERA Now, More Than Ever, Ms. Magazine
Dec. 21 The text from Eve Rodsky's husband that made her say "I'm done" with their division of labor, Salon
Dec. 23 Lawsuit Seeks to Preempt Efforts to Declare Equal Rights Amendment Ratified, Outside the Beltway
Dec. 24 Letter: Her body, her right, The Columbian
Dec. 24 Equal Rights Amendment expected to pass key hurdle, face new challenge, UPI.com *
Dec. 28 Jocelyn Burdick, 1st ND Woman to serve in US Senate, dies, ABC News
Dec. 28 12 Shows Making Us Excited for 2020, TVInsider
Dec. 30 Get Excited for These Brand Spanking New TV Series in 2020, The Mary Sue
Jan. 1 States across the country plan ambitious legislative agendas for 2020, The Hill
Jan. 2 Hattie Caraway, the First Woman Elected to the US Senate, Faced a Familiar Struggle with Gender Politics, Smithsonian
* This article appeared in several publications*
STATES:
ALABAMA
Dec. 20 Alabama AG Steve Marshall Files Lawsuit to Block the Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, Bama Politics
Dec. 20 Lawsuit Announced to Block New Equal Rights Amendment, Tv24
Dec. 26 Opinion | Steve Marshall's 2019 was one of the worst in Alabama history, AlReporter.com
CALIFORNIA
Dec. 23 Editorial: The hypocrisy at the heart of the ERA opposition, Los Angeles Times
Dec. 31 Fireworks pop and confetti drops as throngs of revelers cheer the start of 2020, San Diego Union-Tribune
Jan. 1 Editorial: New Year's Wishes for the 2020s, Los Angeles Times
FLORIDA
Dec. 20 Kim Porteous presented at recent Democratic Women's Club meeting, Citrus County Chronicle
Dec. 21 Saturday's letters: Tax appraisals, women's rights, and more, Gainesville Sun
Dec. 23 Letter to the Editor: Equal rights are equal for all, Santa Rosa Press Gazette
Dec. 28 From the Left: Wishes for the new year, Daily Commercial
Jan. 1 Doug Copeland named Sun's Person of the Year, The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper
Jan. 1 Lawmakers pledge ERA will pass in Virginia. Then what?, ActionNewsJax.com
IDAHO
Dec. 22 Letters to the editor, Dec. 22, 2019 , Idaho Press-Tribune
Jan. 1 Lawmakers pledge ERA will pass in Virginia. Then what?, Coeur d'Alene Press
ILLINOIS
Dec. 28 Demeaning stereotypes linked to Illinois' initial failure to pass ERA, The Community World
MASSACHUSETTS
Dec. 26 Columnist Carrie N. Baker: Progress for women's rights in 2019, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Jan. 2 Another year, another women's march, Daily Hampshire Gazette
MICHIGAN
Dec. 30 The ERA could finally become a reality. Here's a look back at Michigan women's fight for equality, Michigan Advance
Jan. 1 Column: Things to Come, The Morning Sun
MINNESOTA
Dec. 21 Glimpse: 100th anniversary of women's suffrage being celebrated, Mankato Free Press
NEW YORK
Jan. 1 Lawmakers pledge ERA will pass in Virginia. Then what?, News 12 Brooklyn
NORTH CAROLINA
Dec. 29 Alabama, Louisiana and South Dakota Sue to Block Equal Rights Amendment, WFAE
*This article appeared across several news circuits, including in Florida*
NORTH DAKOTA
Dec. 28 Jocelyn Burdick, 1st ND woman to serve in US Senate, dies, Everything Grande Prairie
PENNSYLVANIA
Jan. 2 Save the SeaWolves, Erie Reader
SOUTH DAKOTA
Dec. 20 While Democrats 'make hay' over Equal Rights Amendment, Republican leader says they're equality happen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Dec. 20 South Dakota does not want the Equal Rights Amendment added to the constitution, Keloland
Dec. 27 South Dakota Equal Rights Amendment stance infuriating, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
TENNESSEE
Jan. 1 New year breathes new life into decades-long fight over the Equal Rights Amendment, News Channel 5
UTAH
Dec. 21 We Wish You an Equal Christmas, Salt Lake City Weekly
Dec. 25 The Year in Photo Review 2019, Salt Lake City Weekly
Jan. 1 Here is the latest news from the Associated Press at 9:40 EST, KSL.com
Jan. 2 Citizen Revolt, Salt Lake City Weekly
VIRGINIA
Dec. 19 3 conservative-leaning states sue to block ERA from ratification, WTKR
Dec. 21 Equal Rights Amendment May Be Near Ratification, Deadline Looms, Patch
Dec. 22 In Virginia, Democrats Get Ready to Rule the Roost, Wall Street Journal
Dec. 22 Radford leader leaves a solid foundation for peace, Roanoke Times
Dec. 22 Here's How Hard It Will Be to Pass A Green New Deal In Virginia, The Dogwood
Dec. 23 US senators move to life ERA deadline as Va. lawmakers prepare for 2020 vote, Prince William Times
Dec. 23 For Dems, redistricting should be bigger than partisan politics, Fairfax Times
Dec. 25 OUR VIEW: Top 10 of the 2010s: Same-sex marriage a new right, Herald & Review
Dec. 27 Milk, muskets, music and ERA: Some General Assembly legislation off the beaten path, Kingsport Times News
Dec. 27 Range of issues to fuel General Assembly debate, WDBJ7
Dec. 30 Sen. Howell preps 2020 legislative package, Inside NoVA
Dec. 30 Advice for Dems from "America's Dad", Virginia Business Magazine
Dec. 30 Virginia Poised to Pass Equal Rights Amendment Nearly 5 Decades After It Was Proposed, WAMU 88.5
Dec. 30 Labor Law: Changes to labor laws could be on the horizon, Richmond.com
Dec. 30 Richmond.com's most popular articles and photo galleries of 2019, Richmond.com
Dec. 31 Changes in Virginia: What Democratic lawmakers say they'll do with control of legislature, WSLS 10
Jan. 1 Editorial: 20 questions for 2020, Roanoke Times
Jan. 2 News to know for Jan. 2, WWBT NBC12
Jan. 2 Year in Review: Shenandoah, Warren remain red while Democrats surge into 2020, Northern Virginia Daily
Jan. 2 A Career Born of the Equal Rights Amendment; Pat Brown Retires from WRCNRV, WVTF
Jan. 3 In majority for first time, Sen. Favola preps for 2020 session, Inside NoVa
WASHINGTON
Dec. 22 Finding diamonds in the dust, Westside Seattle
Dec. 28 Jocelyn Burdick, 1st ND woman to serve in US Senate, dies, MyNorthwest.com
WISCONSIN
Dec. 31 Virginia Poised to Pass Equal Rights Amendment Nearly 5 Decades After it was Proposed, WUWM
WYOMING
Dec. 22 Smith: Suffrage celebrations reveal strong cultural network, Casper Star-Tribune Online
OBITUARIES:
Dec. 27 Jocelyn Burdick, 1st ND woman to serve in US Senate, dies, Washington Post
Dec. 29 Lesley Aileen Hales Clyde, Daily Herald
OPPOSITION:
Dec. 29 Letter to the Editor, The Capital Journal
Dec. 30 The Left's 'New Frontier' is Old: Reviving the ERA, National Review
Dec. 30 Reviving the ERA: Using women's rights to undermine women's rights, The Hill
Jan. 2 First female judge in North Carolina was no feminist, Charlotte Observer
Jan. 2 How the left is trying to resurrect the unnecessary Equal Rights Amendment, NY Post
