Rally at legislature supports Nevada ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment

In support of a renewed movement to get just three more states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, Northern Nevada residents met and rallied in front of the Nevada Legislature at noon on Tuesday in support of Sausalito-resident Helene de Boissiere-Swanson.

De Boissiere-Swanson is on a pilgrimage across the United States for the ERA movement and will walk to Las Vegas through Dayton after leaving Carson City. She explained the importance of Nevada in saying that, "Just as Nevada was pivotal in moving the USA forward in the abolishment of slavery, I believe that Nevada will move this great nation forward in passing the ERA into national law." 

In coordinating her one-year walk, she is working with numerous women's and political organizations including her own organization at KatrinasDream.org.
 
Thirty-five states ratified the ERA, but Nevada was one of just fifteen states that did not ratify it by the 1979 deadline which was later renewed to 1982.  Two identical federal bills in Congress, however, are pending passage to remove the Amendment deadline in preparation for three additional states ratifying the Amendment. 

The bills which were written during the 113th Congress (2013-2014) are S.J. Res 15 sponsored by Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) with 34 co-sponsors so far and H.J. Res 113 sponsored Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA14) with 110 co-sponsors so far.
 
Local activist and WNC student Jocelyn Diaz also attended the rally and recently started the Northern Nevada chapter of the National Organization of Women to advance women's rights and protections. 

She emphasized, "It is important to realize that women's equity impacts everyone. We must show our daughters that their value and worth go much deeper than their grace or looks. Without this recognition, we do a disservice not only to our country, but to the rest of the world. Helene is not only talking the talk, but she is walking the walk. It is imperative that we show our support!"
 
Washoe Valley resident, UNR political science major, and Outstanding Nevada Legislative Intern in 2013, Janette Dean, is also working toward passage of the ERA and plans to reach out to a Nevada State Senator to introduce ratification legislation in the 78th Session. 

She was also able to speak with U.S. Senator Reid on Monday morning at a "Meet the Candidate and Elected Officials" forum in which he emphasized the importance of many issues such as comprehensive immigration reform, expanded renewable energy usage, an increase in the minimum wage, and equal pay for women who earn just 77 cents to the dollar compared with men. 

In reply to her question about supporting the ERA, Reid told Dean and the audience that he would have no problem supporting federal legislation providing passage of the ERA or with Nevada ratification as one of the final three states needed. In fact, he told Dean, "It's been long enough, hasn't it?"
 
Dean says also wants passage of the ERA because, "It will finally allow the United States to also ratify the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) treaty which we signed in July 1980 but did not ratify because there is no strong legal mechanism to put its provisions into practice which is required upon ratification; the ERA as the 28th Amendment would provide that."

Only seven out of 194 countries have not ratified the CEDAW treaty, including the United States, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Iran, and two small Pacific Island nations (Palau and Tonga)."  Dean also stated that her current International Human Rights class inspired her involvement to help get Nevada to ratify the ERA.  "In class, I learned that despite the fact that women should be protected under existing human rights laws, widespread discrimination in terms of pay, leadership positions, unprosecuted violence, legal bias, and other forms of discrimination continues including deprivation of education and healthcare in several developing areas. This is why laws that specifically outlaw discrimination by sex are indeed necessary such as the long overdue ERA."
 
Politically active community members Melanie Meehan-Crossley, Donna Curtis, and Ms. Marty McGarry also supported the rally and have been waiting for passage of the ERA since the late 70's.
 
De Boissiere-Swanson confirmed that her walk, expected to take one year, is challenging and arduous but that as an evangelical Episcopalian, "it is her passion and calling is to promote passage of the ERA once and for all."
For more information on the ERA, visit www.equalrightsamendment.org.
 
Text of the Equal Rights Amendment:
 
Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
 
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
 
Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.