Vote Equality!
The Equal Rights Amendment IS our 28th Amendment!
“Is there really a gender equality issue in America?”
- Victims of gender discrimination NEED a constitutional amendment. Currently they are more likely to lose a case than win it.
- The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments require equal protection of the laws, but courts do not hold state and federal governments discriminating on the basis of sex to the same high standard courts apply to government discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, or religion.
- Sex discrimination currently receives “intermediate scrutiny” in the courts, whereas other forms of discrimination receive “strict scrutiny.” Under intermediate scrutiny it is much easier for the government to discriminate.
- The current standard for race, religion, or country of origin discrimination cases is “strict scrutiny” which provides a 73% likelihood of winning. (source, Tennessee.edu)
- Currently, gender discrimination cases receive “heightened” or “intermediate scrutiny” and because of this the likelihood of winning a case are only 47%.(source, Tennessee.edu)
- Parties who seek to defend gender-based government action must demonstrate an “exceedingly persuasive justification” for that action. (source, Mississippi for Unvi Women v Hogan)
- In a recent Title VII Supreme Court decision, Bostock v. Clayton County, “sex” was held to include protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
- A constitutional amendment is far more enduring than legislation or court precedent.
- A constitutional amendment can only be removed/revised with another constitution amendment.
- State and federal legislation advancing gender equality can always be repealed or replaced.
- Court decisions may be retreated from or abandoned. They are not permanent.
- But don’t just take our word for it! The American Bar Association formally reaffirmed support for the Equal Rights Amendment in 2016. In a June 2018 letter submitted for inclusion in the Congressional Record, the ABA identified three immediate effects of the addition of the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution:
- gender equality would be established under the law as a fundamental and irrevocable tenet of society;
- judges would be required to apply the highest standard of scrutiny when deciding cases involving sex discrimination; and
- existing gender equity laws would be protected, and enforcement of these laws would be reinvigorated.
- The United States has fallen out of the top third of countries internationally when ranked by gender equality due to a widening gap in political empowerment and health outcomes between men and women. For the sources behind these facts and to see how we compare with other nations, check out our FAQ “International.”
- Check out our FAQ “What Changes” for a list of systemic inequities we believe will be challenged using the 28th Amendment.
ADDITIONAL FAQs
What Changes
“What will the 28th Amendment (Equal Rights) really do?”
About Us
“Who is VoteEqualityUS and what’s your plan?”
ABA Resolution
“What does the legal profession think?”
Abortion
“Doesn’t this open the door for abortion rights?”
Bathrooms
“Will we all have to use the same bathrooms?”
Bipartisan
“Do most Americans support Equal Rights in our Constitution?”
Business Case
“How does gender equality impact businesses?”
Contracts
“Won’t women contractors lose enhanced status for contract bids?”
Convention
“Can’t we just do this during the constitutional convention?”
Deadline
“Didn't the ratification deadline already pass?”
Discrimination
“What government gender discrimination is happening now?”
Draft
“Does constitutional equality mean women will be drafted?”
Equal Pay
“Will this help women get paid more equally?”
Family Law
“How will the Equal Rights Amendment impact family law?”
Fear of Unknown
“How can we do this when we don't know what will happen?”
Gender Violence
“How can constitutional gender equality help with gender violence?”
Ginsburg
“Didn’t RBG say something about starting over?”
History
“What is the history of the 28th Amendment (Equal Rights)?”
Illinois v Ferriero
“Isn’t there a court case about the 28th Amendment (Equal Rights)?”
Insurance
“What about insurance? Someone said my rates will go up.”
International
“How do we compare to other countries?”
Intersectionality
“Is the 28th Amendment (Equal Rights) for all of us?”
Military
“How will the Equal Rights Amendment impact our military?”
Pregnancy
“Will this help with pregnancy discrimination?”
Rescissions
“Didn’t a few states rescind their ratifications?”
Social Security
“Will my widow lose her social security benefits when I die?”
Sports
“Will my daughter lose her girls only soccer team?”
Tax Exempt Status
“Will my church lose its tax exempt status?”
Title VII and Title IX
“How is this different from Title VII and Title IX?”
Topless
“Will women now be walking around topless?”
Transgender
“Will this provide protections for transgender individuals?”
