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2020 Annual Meeting

August 24, 2020 by Audrey Muck 1 Comment

Register Today!

Saturday, October 17th, 10 AM – 12:30 PM
Online Annual Meeting via Zoom
Virtual “doors” open at 9:45 AM

Our co-presidents, Lori Bunton and Jimmie Cochran Pratt, will share what we’ve accomplished this year, outline our plans moving forward toward North Carolina being the 39th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, and what you can do to help us gain Constitutional Equality for all Americans.

Keynote Speaker, Steve Andersson

Steve Andersson is a Commissioner of Human Rights for the State of Illinois appointed by Illinois’ Governor JB Pritzker. He is also a retired member of the Illinois House of Representatives. During his tenure, he was floor leader for the House Republican Caucus and oversaw all debate on the House floor.

[Read more…] about 2020 Annual Meeting

2020 Candidate Survey

August 11, 2020 by Audrey Muck 3 Comments

The ERA-NC Alliance has sent out a survey to all North Carolina candidates running for state and federal office, to find out which candidates support the Equal Rights Amendment. Below you’ll find a list of those candidates who have responded so far. If you know any of the candidates who have not responded, feel free to urge them to fill out the postcard that was enclosed with the letter and get it back to us!

US Senate Candidates | US House Candidates

NC Senate Candidates | NC House Candidates

** Indicates legislator who sponsored or cosponsored ERA in 2019

**** Indicates legislator who voted to lift the time limit on the ERA

US Senate	Candidate	Party	ERA position	Comment
	Tillis, Thom	Rep
	Bray, Shannon W.	Lib
	Cunningham, Cal	Dem	Yes	We are long overdue to ratify the ERA. In the Senate, I will support efforts to ensure it can take effect, because the story of North Carolina belongs to all of us.
	Hayes, Kevin E.	CST

US House

District	Candidate	Party	ERA position	Comment
1	Smith, Sandy	Rep
1	Butterfield, G.K.	Dem	****
2	Ross, Deborah K.	Dem	Yes	“I have been working to pass the Equal Rights Amendment and expand women’s rights since I was in college. I would absolutely support extending the deadline.”
2	Swain, Alan D.	Rep
2	Matemu, Jeff	Lib
3	Farrow, Daryl	Dem
3	Murphy, Greg	Rep
4	Price, David E.	Dem	**** Yes
4	Thomas, Robert	Rep	Yes
5	Brown, David Wilson	Dem	Yes	“Grossly overdue”
5	Foxx, Virginia	Rep
5	Gregory, Jeff	CST	Yes
6	Haywood, Lee	Rep
6	Manning, Kathy	Dem	Yes
7	Rouzer, David	Rep
7	Ward, Christopher M.	Dem
8	Timmons-Goodson, Patricia	Dem
8	Hudson, Richard	Rep
9	Wallace, Cynthia L.	Dem
9	Bishop, Dan	Rep
10	Parker, David	Dem	Yes
10	McHenry, Patrick	Rep
11	Zwinak, Tamara	GRE	Yes
11	Davis, Moe	Dem	Yes	“Because it is long past time.”
11	DeBruhl, Tracey	Lib
11	Cawthorn, Madison	Rep
12	Adams, Alma	Dem	****
12	Brewster, Bill CANCELLED	Rep
13	Budd, Ted	Rep
13	Huffman, Scott	Dem	Yes

NC General Assembly – Senate

District	Candidate	Party	ERA position	Comment
1	Steinburg, Bob	Rep
1	Judge, Tess	Dem
2	Sanderson, Norman W.	Rep
2	Griffin, Libbie	Dem	Yes	“I have supported the ERA since 1972. Women need that protection and freedom.”
2	Harris, Tim	Lib
3	Bazemore (Byrd), Ernestine	Dem
3	Hester, Thomas S., Jr.	Rep
4	Webb, Sammy Davis	Rep	Yes	“We need this guarantee in the Constitution.”
4	Fitch, Milton F., Jr.	Dem	**
5	Davis, Don	Dem	**
5	Kozel, Karen	Rep
6	Johnson, Ike	Dem	Yes	“Everyone deserves equal rights under the law.”
6	Lazzara, Michael A.	Rep
7	Perry, Jim	Rep
7	Lake, Donna	Dem	Yes	“Pay equity for women; enforce laws on violence against women; legal remedy against sex discrimination.”
8	Rabon, Bill	Rep
8	Sink, David	Dem	Yes	“It’s the right thing to do.”
8	Mascolo, Anthony	Lib
9	Peterson, Harper	Dem	Yes **	“All citizens should be treated equally under the law, regardless of sex.”
9	Lee, Michael	Rep
10	Jackson, Brent	Rep
10	Moore, Vernon R.	Dem
11	Wellons, Allen	Dem
11	Barnes, Lisa Stone	Rep
12	Burgin, Jim	Rep
12	Kirkman, John	Dem	Yes	”It is time. It is needed.”
13	Yates-Lockamy, Barbara	Dem
13	Britt, Danny Earl, Jr.	Rep
14	Walczak, Justin	Lib
14	Blue, Dan	Dem	**
14	Michael, Alan David	Rep
15	Chaudhuri, Jay J.	Dem	**
15	Lomuscio, Mario J.	Rep
15	McDonald, Kat	Lib	Yes	“As a young woman I find it necessary to fight for equal rights.”
16	Marsh, Will	Rep
16	Nickel, Wiley	Dem	Yes **	“I co-sponsored the amendment in 2019. ERA now!”
17	Searcy, Sam	Dem	Yes **	“I cosponsored the ERA bill in the NC Senate & I’m committed to the change!”
17	Cavaliero, Mark	Rep
17	Groo, Travis	Lib	Yes	“I believe in equality for all people, all the time!”
18	Crawford, Sarah	Dem	Yes
18	Loeback, Jason	Lib
18	Norman, Larry E.	Rep	No	“I oppose the ERA.”
19	DeViere, Kirk	Dem	Yes **	“I have already been a co- sponsor of the bill in this session.”
19	Meredith, Wesley	Rep
20	Taranto, John	Rep
20	Murdock, Natalie	Dem
21	Palacios, Sev	Rep	Yes	“I believe it is important to recognize men and women and unborn practice true faith of the words of the US Constitution, ‘All men are created equal.’”
21	Clark, Ben	Dem	**
22	Padgett, Rick	Rep	Yes	“Equal access and due process. I have worked for some great women. I worked domestic violence cases in law enforcement.”
22	Ubinger, Ray	Lib
22	Woodard, Mike	Dem	**
23	Foushee, Valerie	Dem	**
23	Glendinning, Tom	Rep	Yes	“Depending on wording. One question: if a black woman Democrat is seated in NC Senate, how come she has never put forth this bill??? Answer me that.”
24	Wooten, J.D.	Dem
24	Galey, Amy S.	Rep
25	Mills, Helen Probst	Dem	Yes	“To guarantee that all citizens without regard to sex, are afforded all the rights under the Constitution!”
25	McInnis, Tom	Rep
26	Tillman, Jerry W.	Rep
26	Gant, Jane Ledwell	Dem
27	Garrett, Michael	Dem	**
27	King, Sebastian	Rep
28	Robinson, Gladys	Dem	Yes **	“I introduced a bill for ERA with sponsors.”
28	King, D.R.	Rep
29	Jarvis, Steve	Rep
29	Lassiter, Duskin	Dem	Yes	“My mother supported this cause decades ago.”
30	White, Wally	Dem	Yes	“Equal rights should happen automatically because it’s the right thing to do.”
30	Berger, Philip E. (Phil)	Rep
31	Krawiec, Joyce	Rep
31	LeGrand, Terri Elizabeth	Dem	Yes	“Because women deserve to have our rights under the Constitution unequivocally recognized and protected. The ERA will send a clear message that discrimination on the basis of sex or gender will not be tolerated.”
32	Challa, Ven	Rep	Yes
32	Lowe, Paul, Jr.	Dem	**
33	Ellis, Tarsha	Dem
33	Ford, Cal	Rep
34	Sawyer, Vickie	Rep
34	Templeton, Barry	Dem
35	Santiago, Jose	Dem
35	Johnson, Todd	Rep
36	Singleton, Marcus J.	Dem	Yes
36	Newton, Paul	Rep
37	Scott, Jeff	Lib
37	Jackson, Jeff	Dem	**
37	Nichols, Sonja P.	Rep
38	Brosch, Jack W.	Rep
38	Mohammed, Mujtaba	Dem	**
39	Salvador, DeAndrea	Dem
39	Niday, Joshua	Rep
40	Shields, Bobbie	Rep
40	Waddell, Joyce	Dem	**
41	Cole, Christopher	CST	No	“Because it is a backdoor effort to enshrine abortion in the Constitution.”
41	Marcus, Natasha	Dem	Yes **	“It’s way past time for this basic affirmation of equality.”
42	Proctor, H. Dean	Rep
42	Miles, Tina R.	Dem
43	Young, William	Dem	Yes	“Women have proven themselves equal citizens and deserve all equal rights.”
43	Harrington, Kathy	Rep
44	Alexander, Ted	Rep
44	Lattimore, David Lee	Dem	Yes	“I would support the resolu- tion to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Everyone is equal in the law and shouldn’t be discriminated against because [of] race, color, or sex.”
45	Supin, Jeanne	Dem
45	Ballard, Deanna	Rep
46	Phifer, Edward	Dem	Yes	“Long overdue”
46	Barrick, Michael	Dem		WITHDRAWN
46	Daniel, Warren	Rep
47	Wheeler, Daniel Brian	Dem	Yes	“Because women are equal to men and it is 2020, not 1820.”
47	Hise, Ralph	Rep
48	Caskey, Brian	Dem	Yes	“I believe in pay equity and in equal rights for all.”
48	Edwards, Chuck	Rep
49	Penland, Bob	Rep
49	Mayfield, Julie	Dem	Yes	“Because it’s the right thing to do.”
50	Corbin, Kevin	Rep
50	Fox, Victoria	Dem	Yes	“I’m a woman who has dealt with discrimination based purely on my gender. I under- stand the importance of this resolution.”
50	Ingram, Clifton	Lib

NC House of Representatives

District	Candidate	Party	ERA position	Comment
1	Goodwin, Edward C.	Rep
1	Nicholson, Emily Bunch	Dem	Yes	“Absolutely! My three daughters deserve these protections.”
2	Yarborough, Larry	Rep
2	Deporter, Cindy	Dem	Yes	“I most certainly support this ERA amendment. It is the right thing to do.”
3	Tyson, Steve	Rep
3	White, Dorothea Downing	Dem
4	Schulte, Christopher	Dem	Yes	“We must end sex discrimination. There needs to be a constitutional amendment to set the standard.”
4	Dixon, Jimmy	Rep
5	Hunter, Howard J. III	Dem	**
5	Kirkland, Donald	Rep
6	Fulcher, Tommy	Dem	Yes	“Women will never attain equality under the law without the constitutional protections of the ERA. I will vote to ratify the ERA.”
6	Hanig, Bobby	Rep
7	Stover, Phil	Dem
7	Winslow, Matthew	Rep
8	Smith, Kandie D.	Dem	**	“Women’s rights are expected!”
8	Moore, Tony	Rep	Un- decided	“Do not have enough information!”
9	Farkas, Brian	Dem	Yes
9	Jones, Perrin	Rep
10	Bell, John	Rep
10	Martin, Carl	Dem
11	Pope, Clark	Rep
11	Travers, Adrian Lee	Lib
11	Dahle, Allison	Dem	Yes **
12	Cox-Daugherty, Virginia	Dem	Yes	“America cannot realize its potential of liberty and justice for all without ratification of the ERA.”
12	Humphrey, Chris	Rep
13	Bayliff, Buck	Dem
13	McElraft, Patricia (Pat)	Rep
14	Wofford, Marcy	Dem
14	Cleveland, George G.	Rep
15	Shepard, Phillip	Rep
15	Gomaa, Carolyn F.	Dem
16	Smith, Carson	Rep
16	Fintak, Debbi	Dem	Yes	”I’m a member of ERA and the Pender County Representative.”
17	Simmons, Tom	Dem	Yes	”It is time to ensure all people have equal rights under the law.”
17	Iler, Frank	Rep
18	Butler, Deb	Dem	Yes **	“You bet, long overdue!”
18	Kennedy, Warren	Rep
19	Miller, Charlie	Rep
19	Morgan, Marcia	Dem	Yes
20	Davis, Ted, Jr.	Rep
20	Ericson, Adam	Dem	Yes
21	Smith, Raymond E., Jr.	Dem	**
21	Heath, Brent	Rep
22	Brisson, William	Rep
22	Kirby, Albert D., Jr.	Dem
23	Willingham, Shelly	Dem	Yes **	“It’s the right thing to do.”
23	Holtzman, Claiborne	Rep
23	Lane, Abbie (Bud)	Gre	Yes	“Not only is it long overdue but everyone deserves equal rights under the law and I have long supported the ERA.”
24	Rankin, Mick	Rep
24	Farmer-Butterfield, Jean	Dem
25	Taylor, Nick	Lib
25	Check, John M.	Rep
25	Gailliard, James D.	Dem	**
26	White, Donna McDowell	Rep
26	Bennett, Linda	Dem
26	Lee, Denton	UNA
27	Wray, Michael H.	Dem	**
27	Nail, Warren Scott	Rep
28	Stephens, Corey	Dem
28	Strickland, Larry C.	Rep
29	Alston, Vernetta	Dem	Yes
30	Bell, Gavin	Lib
30	Morey, Marcia	Dem	**
31	Sosebee, Steven W., Jr.	Rep
31	Haugh, Sean	Lib	Yes	“It’s long past due.”
31	Hawkins, Zack	Dem	**
32	Woodson, David	Rep
32	Garrison, Terry E.	Dem	Yes **	“Support equal rights for women.”
33	Sarpolus, Frann	Rep
33	Brooks, Sammie	Lib
33	Gill, Rosa U.	Dem	Yes **	“I support women’s rights completely.”
34	Smith, Ronald L.	Rep
34	Martin, Grier	Dem	**
34	Munger, Michael C.	Lib
35	Von Canon, Fred	Rep
35	Everitt, Terence	Dem	**
35	Nelson, Michael	Lib	Yes	“Because it would force government to treat its citizens as individuals and not as a collective based on sex.”
36	Von Haefen, Julie	Dem	Yes **	“As a primary sponsor of the ERA bill in 2019, passage in 2021 is my number one priority!”
36	Basson, Bruce	Lib
36	Coley, Kim	Rep
37	Pare, Erin	Rep
37	Batch, Mrs. Sydney	Dem	Yes **	“Women should be treated equally under the law and afforded the same opportunities as men.”
37	Leaver, Liam	Lib
38	Bagnal, Kenneth	Rep
38	Haygood, Richard	Lib
38	Jones, Abe	Dem
39	Jackson, Darren	Dem	**
40	Falzon, Gerard	Rep	Un- decided	“Do not have enough info at this point.”
40	John, Joe	Dem	Yes **	“Co-sponsored H271 in 2019-20 session. ERA is long overdue.”
41	Populorum, Scott	Rep
41	Adcock, Gale	Dem	Yes **	“These protections are needed.”
41	Meilleur, Guy	Lib	Yes	“All people are created equal.”
42	Blake, Jon	Rep
42	Lucas, Marvin W.	Dem	Yes **	“It’s time.”
43	Wheatley, Diane	Rep
43	Hardy, Kimberly	Dem	Yes	“Because it is far past time! Our rights are not up for discussion.”
44	Richardson, Billy	Dem	**
44	Holmes, Heather S.	Rep
45	Szoka, John	Rep
45	Jackson, Frances Vinell	Dem
46	Heath, Tim	Dem
46	Jones, Brenden H.	Rep
47	Oxendine, Olivia	Rep
47	Graham, Charles	Dem	**
48	Pierce, Garland E.	Dem	**
48	Boyles, Johnny H.	Rep
49	Robertson, David	Rep
49	Ball, Cynthia	Dem	Yes **	“This is long overdue!”
50	Meyer, Graig R.	Dem	Yes **	“For my daughter!”
51	Sauls, John	Rep
51	Cain, Jason	Dem
52	Simon, Lowell	Dem	Yes	“Equal means equal!”
52	Boles, James L. (Jamie)	Rep
53	Benson, Sally Weeks	Dem	Yes	“Long overdue! We must move forward.”
53	Berly, Zach	Lib	Yes	“The rights of all Americans must be enshrined in the Constitution. W/o the ERA women are vulnerable to legal discrimination. NC’s abysmal record of equal/civil rights voting has to change.”
53	Lewis, David R.	Rep		RESIGNED
54	Reives, Robert T. II	Dem	**
54	Gilson, George T., Jr.	Rep
55	Overcash, Gloria Harrington	Dem	Yes	“The ratification of the ERA will vastly improve the lives of all women. It will strengthen our state by not only improving pay but will also bolster the overall quality of life for all women and for future generations.”
55	Brody, Mark	Rep
56	Insko, Verla C,	Dem	**
57	Clemmons, Ashton	Dem	**
57	Meadows, Chris	Rep	Yes	“Women deserve equal rights.”
58	Quick, Amos	Dem	**
58	Honey, Clinton	Rep
59	Quick, Nicole	Dem	Yes	“It is fair and just and long overdue. 76% of countries with constitutions guarantee equal rights for women.”
59	Hardister, Jon	Rep
60	Ragsdale, Frank	Rep	Yes	“I believe all ethnic and color are good and ‘all lives matter!’ Not just black!”
60	Brockman, Cecil	Dem	**
61	Harrison, Mary Price (Pricey)	Dem	**
62	Faircloth, John	Rep
62	Gray, Brandon	Dem	Yes	“100% yes! It’s long overdue. We need equal rights!”
63	Ross, Stephen	Rep
63	Hortado, Ricky	Dem
64	Riddell, Dennis	Rep
64	Henry, Eric	Dem
65	Bell, Amanda Joann	Dem
65	Carter, Jerry	Rep
66	Brewer, Scott T.	Dem
66	Moss, Ben	Rep
67	Sasser, Wayne	Rep
68	Willis, David	Rep
68	McKnight, Ericka L.	Dem	Yes	“I believe in equal rights for all people.”
69	Arp, Dean	Rep
69	DeMaria, Pam	Dem	Yes	“I believe there should be equal rights for all regardless of sex. Women’s rights must be defended and discrimination must end.”
70	Scott, Susan Lee (Susie)	Dem
70	Hurley, Pat B.	Rep
71	Terry, Evelyn	Dem	Yes **	“I am a proud Black Feminist!”
72	Baker, Amber M.	Dem
72	Lawlor, Dan	Rep	Yes	“We the people. All men are created equal.”
73	Stinson, William	Dem
73	Zachary, Lee	Rep
74	Zenger, Jeff	Rep
74	Besse, Dan	Dem	Yes	“I’ve campaigned for the ERA since 1979. It should have been the law long ago.”
75	Lambeth, Donny C.	Rep
75	Motsinger, Elisabeth	Dem	Yes	“It is long past due! Women need to be full citizens that are protected by the Constitution.”
76	Warren, Harry	Rep
76	Heggins, Al	Dem
77	Howard, Barbara B.	Dem		WITHDRAWN
77	Howard, Julia Craven	Rep
—
78	McNeill, Allen Ray	Rep
78	Meredith, Jim	Dem		WITHDRAWN
79	Blount, Nick	Dem	Yes	“Equality is a core principle of our nation’s democratic structure and until it’s achieved we will not be ‘united.’”
79	Kidwell, Keith	Rep
80	Sellars, Wendy	Dem
80	Watford, Sam	Rep
81	Potts, Larry W.	Rep
81	Jordan, Robert Lewis	Dem
82	Steele, Aimy	Dem	Yes	“It’s the right thing to do for all North Carolinians.”
82	Baker, Kristin	Rep
83	Pittman, Larry G.	Rep
83	Young, Gail	Dem	Yes
84	Harris, Gayle Wesley	Dem	Yes	“Should be ZERO discrimina- tion. Ridiculous it has taken this long.”
84	McNeely, Jeffrey C.	Rep
85	Remington, Ted	Dem	Yes	“We have a moral and legal obligation to plug this hole in our Constitution.”
85	Greene, Dudley	Rep
86	Surratt, Cecelia	Dem
86	Blackwell, Hugh	Rep
87	Schreiber, Corie	Dem
87	Hall, Destin	Rep
88	Tondreau, David	Rep
88	Belk, Mary	Dem	Yes **	“We need an amendment that guarantees women’s basic rights. No discrimination will be tolerated.”
89	Setzer, Mitchell Smith	Rep
89	Cranford, Greg	Dem	Yes	“I support equal rights!”
90	Shaw, Beth	Dem	Yes	“It is long past due.”
90	Stevens, Sarah	Rep
91	Cruise, Rita	Dem	Yes	“Absolutely! I cannot believe it has not been ratified.”
91	Hall, Kyle	Rep
92	Brown, Terry	Dem	Yes	“I absolutely support the ERA. It is past time to codify equality in our Constitution.”
92	Munden, Jerry	Rep
93	Pickett, Ray	Rep
93	Russell, Ray	Dem	**
94	Elmore, Jerry	Rep
95	Kotis, Amanda Brown	Dem
95	Mills, Grey	Rep
96	Adams, Jay	Rep
96	Bost, Kim	Dem	Yes	“Sex discrimination needs to be clearly illegal.”
97	Saine, Jason R.	Rep
97	McBryde, Greg	Dem
98	Bradford, John R. III	Rep
98	Clark, Christy	Dem	Yes **	“Women’s rights are important to all of our community.”
99	Rowe, Russell	Rep	Maybe	“I do not know enough details. I am in disagreement with one point.”
99	Majeed, Nasif	Dem	**
100	Thompson, Kalle	Rep
100	Autry, John	Dem	**
101	Logan, Carol G.	Dem	**
101	Mauney, Steve	Rep
102	Carney, Becky	Dem	Yes **	“The time is long overdue for NC to pass the Equal Rights Amendment to send the message: ‘the Constitution has zero tolerance for sex discrimination under the law.”
102	Kirby, Kyle	Rep
103	Brawley, Bill	Rep
103	Hunt, Rachel	Dem	**
104	Pomeroy, Don	Rep
104	Lofton, Brandon	Dem	**
105	Bynum, Amy	Rep
105	Harris, Wesley	Dem	**
106	Cunningham, Carla	Dem	Yes **
107	Rivette, Richard	Rep
107	Alexander, Kelly	Dem	Yes **	“Have supported since Carter Administration.”
108	Torbett, John A.	Rep
108	Caudill, Daniel	Dem	Yes	“Equal rights are very important to me.”
109	Bumgardner, Dana	Rep
109	Maxon, Susan	Dem	Yes	“Equal rights for all needs to be in the Constitution and not rely on a patchwork of laws.”
110	Hastings, Kelly E.	Rep
111	Childers, Jennifer	Dem	Yes	“End sex discrimination and assure legal protections for victims of domestic violence.”
111	Moore, Tim	Rep
112	Rogers, David	Rep
112	Hallyburton, Ed	Dem
113	Edney, Sam	Dem	Yes	“It is inconceivable to me that in the 21st century there is even a debate over equal rights for women. What’s to debate? The fact that it is lawful to discriminate between men and women in North Carolina is abhorrent and inexcusable. Women need the power of a constitu- tional amendment to ensure their protection from dis- crimination in the form of lower wages and harassment. It is past time for North Carolina to ratify the ERA.”
113	Johnson, Jake	Rep
114	Smith, Lyndon John	Lib
114	Fisher, Susan C.	Dem	Yes **	“I have helped introduce the resolution in every biennium!”
114	Hyatt, Tim	Rep
115	Ager, John	Dem	Yes **	“It is long overdue to have equal rights in the US Constitution for all.”
115	Crawford, Mark	Rep	?	“I made my commitment at the League of Women Voters legislative forum (held in the Black Mountain Library) during the 2018 race. I stand by my word and don’t plan to change that.”
116	Turner, Brian	Dem	Yes **	“It’s the right thing to do.”
116	Burns, Eric	Rep
117	Remillard, Josh	Dem
117	Moffitt, Tim	Rep
118	Pless, Mark	Rep
118	Jones, Alan	Dem	Yes	“The amendment is very overdue. We need to recognize & guarantee equal rights regar- dless of a person’s sex.”
119	Queen, Joe Sam	Dem	Yes **	”It’s time, it’s fair.”
119	Clampitt, Mike	Rep
120	Gillespie, Karl	Rep
120	Landis, Susan	Dem	Yes	“I have fought for the ERA since 1970s. I totally support it.”

#Face the Music 4ERA

August 4, 2020 by Audrey Muck Leave a Comment

SAVE THE DATE for #FacetheMusic4ERA!

Join us on Women’s Equality Day to raise our voices with music & calls-to-action for racial and gender justice and to put gender equality into the US Constitution! ERA-NC Alliance is a proud co-sponsor of this event.

FaceTheMusic4ERA is a virtual music concert featuring an amazing line-up of artists and speakers from across the country celebrating how far the ERA has come and laying out concrete next steps to get the job done!

It’s an opportunity for organizations & activists to come together, celebrate our accomplishments and learn how you can help make the ERA the 28th Amendment to the US Constitution.

Stay tuned for artists and top ERA speakers to be announced soon!

Find the FB event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/894488094294679/

For national co-hosts & sponsors and event details visit: https://www.eramn.org/womens-equality-day-2020.html

EVENT DETAILS:

WHEN: August 26th, 2020

TIME: 5pm PST – 7pm CST – 8pm EST

WHERE: FaceBook Live & Online

WHY: Celebrate, educate, agitate & activate for the 28th Amendment, the ERA!

ERA Lawsuits

July 11, 2020 by Audrey Muck Leave a Comment

ERA-NC Alliance, along with 52 other prominent women’s and social justice organizations, filed an amicus brief on July 1 in the lawsuit Virginia, Illinois and Nevada v. David S. Ferriero. The suit seeks to compel Ferriero, as the National Archivist, to publish the Equal Rights Amendment, making it the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

When Virginia ratified the ERA in January, it became the 38th and final state needed to add the amendment to the Constitution. Nevada ratified in 2017 and Illinois followed in 2018.

Ferriero refused to accept Virginia’s ratification and failed to publish the 28th Amendment. In contrast, he did accept Nevada and Illinois’ ratifications, though they, too, were outside the 1982 time limit.

“I debated the Equal Rights Amendment in 1971 in my senior high school English class,” said Lori Bunton, ERA-NC Alliance co-president. “And here I am, 49-plus years later, helping to lead an organization whose primary goal is to ratify the ERA in North Carolina. I am excited to sign on to the landmark amicus briefs.”

“I’m old enough to remember when Louisiana women were barred from serving on juries; when I could not get credit in my own name; when my mother was not even considered for a promotion, which, of course, went to a less experienced man,” said Roberta Madden, Alliance co-founder and board member. “Some of these outrages have been fixed, but too many have not. This amicus brief is a treasure trove of our history and makes a strong argument to provide women the constitutional protection we must have.”

A host of organizations, businesses and equality groups have filed briefs supporting the suit. Along with the Alliance, other nationally known women’s equality groups include the Alice Paul Institute, the Association of American University Women, the ERA Coalition, the League of Women Voters, TIME’S UP Foundation, the Feminist Majority Foundation, National Congress of Black Women, National Council of Jewish Women, National Organization for Women (NOW), National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Women’s Media Center and Voto Latino.

“A single unelected official cannot be allowed to stand in the way of an amendment that has been fully ratified in accordance with the Constitution,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “Equal rights are not contingent upon a person’s gender or sex, and it is past time that women across the country have the constitutional equality to which they are entitled.”

Constitutional law scholars, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, 18 states, the governor of Kansas, the mayor of Washington, D.C., and the youth-centered equality group GenERAtion Ratify have joined briefs.

Amicus briefs have also been filed on behalf of more than 100 businesses and corporations, such as Apple, Advance Publications, Estee Lauder, Biogen, Goldman Sachs, Sports Business Journal, the National Football League and the United States Soccer Federation.

Flowchart of lawsuit process and timeline. Click for larger image.

State and other Amicus Briefs:

Business and Corporate Entities

Chemerinsky, Feldman, Siegel, Suk

Equality Now and International Organizations

Generation Ratify

New York and Other States

Plantiff States Memorandum

Southern Legal Counsel

VA Ratify and Other State Organizations

Dads for Equality Action Alert!

June 16, 2020 by Audrey Muck Leave a Comment

Here’s an action for Father’s Day! Download a postcard (or all four!) and share with all the Dads you know … and make the calls yourself to Senators Burr, Tillis and McConnell.


Download full-sized image here	Download full-sized image here


Download full-sized image here	Download full-sized image here

The contact information:

Sen. Thom Tillis
113 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6342
www.tillis.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-me

Sen. Richard Burr
217 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3154 or (800) 685-8916
www.burr.senate.gov/contact

Sen. Mitch McConnell
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2541

ERA-NC Alliance condemns racial injustice

June 8, 2020 by Audrey Muck Leave a Comment

ERA-NC Alliance condemns racial injustice, pledges to fight for equality for all

We want to say loud and clear that Black Lives Matter. Now more than ever this statement cannot be ignored. The ERA-NC Alliance stands with our Black sisters and brothers in denouncing the brutality and oppression that far too many have endured. The recent events have shown that not acknowledging and glossing over systemic racism has created a perfect storm of incidents where Black lives have been lost, only to end with little to no justice.

Throughout our country’s history, racism and sexism have gone hand in hand. Some of the most vocal abolitionists were women who saw the parallels in their fight against slavery with the lack of their own rights. As the civil rights movement erupted in the 60s, so did the Second Wave women’s movement’s fight for equality. Racism and sexism are so deeply embedded in our culture that we are unaware of them until a spark ignites a flame of anger and protest.

Every parent of a Black child in this country has reason to fear for their children’s lives. The #SayHerName campaign has highlighted Black girls as young as 7 and Black women as old as 93 who have been killed by the police.

Black women have been the backbone of the women’s movement, despite the frustrations expressed by many that their issues have not been in the forefront of concern.

The women’s movement has been passive and complicit for far too long, and we intend to be on the right side of history. We must fight for equality for all Americans if we are to truly achieve equality for all women. For all to be free, the fight against racism and sexism must be interconnected. Our nation is not a democracy until ALL of our citizens are treated equally in the eyes of the law. Regardless of our race, our ethnicity, our gender, our religion or our sexuality, every one of us should have the same rights and laws protecting us as do those who seek to govern us.

The ERA-NC Alliance condemns ALL forms of racism and injustice. We pledge to be inclusive in the fight for equality for all marginalized communities. We stand together in this fight.

Please join the national ERA Coalition’s virtual Town Hall on the Equal Rights Amendment and its impact on girls and women of color at 5 p.m. Eastern, Thursday, June 18. You can register HERE .

Lori Bunton
Co-president, ERA-NC Alliance
and
The Executive Council, ERA-NC Alliance

Virginia’s Ratification Celebration

March 9, 2020 by Audrey Muck Leave a Comment

International Women’s Day was March 8 and we hope everyone celebrated. VAratifyERA chose this date to celebrate their amazing victory as the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment! Women and men from across Virginia, and from states as far away as AZ and as close as NC, came to spend a sunny afternoon in Virginia’s capitol city, Richmond. The celebration told the world that equality for women has no time limit! ERA-NC Alliance was represented by 3 Board members: Lori Bunton, Co-President, Virginia Adamson, Parliamentarian and Judy Lotas, Board Member. President Jane Terwilliger of AAUW NC, one of our Lead organizations, also attended. The celebration began with speeches from dignitaries in Monroe Park and then everyone marched to the state capitol building led by a local drum corps on a 1.3 mile walk through downtown Richmond’s streets. The attendees climbed the steps of the Capitol for a symbolic photo op before heading back to Monroe Park.

NC is focused on becoming the 39th state to ratify as we continue to work with our legislators. Stay tuned for more information in the weeks ahead!

History Made!

February 25, 2020 by Audrey Muck Leave a Comment

Work continues as U.S. Constitution comes into sight

March 2020 might be the happiest month for women’s equality in, literally, a century. We’ve finally done it, y’all. We’ve ratified the Equal Rights Amendment. Stop. Take a breath. And think about that sentence again.

We. Have. Ratified. The. Equal. Rights. Amendment.

It’s stunning. But it is true. It has happened. Here’s the simple text that will change our lives:

Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged
by the United States or by any State
on account of sex.

Just in time for March’s Women’s History Month and for International Women’s Day on March 8, a global day celebrating women’s achievements. Let’s put on our dancing shoes and toast ourselves. Virginia is having a celebration in Richmond and we’re all invited. And if you can’t make it, I urge you to take the time to high-five your sisters in North Carolina and nationwide.

For those who don’t follow the ERA’s every twist and turn, it may seem as though the recent successes were a moment of spontaneous combustion. They are not. The ERA has not made the front page in decades — or the back page, for that matter — but has NEVER been dormant. Advocates have worked tirelessly for the last 100 years to bring equality to every one in America. Women from the 1920s, such as Alice Paul, handed off the baton to the generation who pushed Congress to pass the ERA in 1972, such as Eleanor Smeal and our own immediate past president Robbie Madden. Those women have never, ever stopped. North Carolina Rep. Carla Cunningham, Sen. Floyd B. McKissick, Jr., and Sen. Terry van Duyn have been on the front lines in our own General Assembly. And a new generation of men and women, such as Nevada’s Pat Spearman, Illinois Republican Steve Andersson and Virginia’s Katie Hornung have pushed ratification over the finish line. It’s been a single continuous river of mostly sisters, dating to Abigail Adams, nearly 300 years of ceaseless effort by thousands and thousands, to give all women the same rights as our brothers. Not more. And not less.

Let me catch you up, in case your attention has been elsewhere. Fair warning: Your head may start to spin.

VIRGINIA BECOMES THE 38TH AND FINAL TO RATIFY
The Commonwealth of Virginia in November elected a swell of pro-ERA legislators. In January, the Virginia House and Senate made ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment the first order of business. Virginia’s ratification joined Nevada’s (2017) and Illinois’ (2018) as the final three needed to ratify. Remember, we had 35 states ratify by 1982, but we needed exactly 38. After a couple of decades’ delay, we’ve arrived!

U.S. HOUSE LIFTS TIME LIMIT
On a separate path, last week the U.S. House voted to lift the arbitrary time limit set by Congress.
In February, our own Attorney General Josh Stein joined a number of other state attorneys general in a letter calling for a floor vote to lift the time limit. Our advocates in Congress, such as Rep. Carolyn Maloney, spent years and years fighting to lift the deadline, filing bill after bill, only to see them lie dormant and dusty in committee. It was a moving, historic moment, with beautiful speeches from our advocates, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with most of our supportive women lawmakers dressed in historic purple.

So now what?

NORTH CAROLINA CONTINUES BATTLE FOR 39TH
Several actions are traveling along separate paths, all headed to the same final destination. The ERA-NC Alliance members are continuing to fight for North Carolina to ratify. Our lawmakers, working closely with us, plan to file new ratification bills in April or May at the beginning of the General Assembly’s short session. We want a big turnout so we’ll keep everyone posted when a day is set. We believe our beloved state should be 39th to ratify, not 49th, as we were with women’s right to vote.

U.S. SENATE MUST LIFT TIME LIMIT
Our second major action is for advocates in the U.S. Senate to successfully lift the arbitrary time limit. That means we need the Senate to pass Senate Joint Resolution 6. We need every advocate to contact our senators, Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, as well as Sen. Mitch McConnell, and ask them to bring the resolution to the Senate floor and vote yes. See our call to action for how-tos.

ACTIONS AGAINST THE NATIONAL ARCHIVIST
And, finally, there’s nothing like changing the Constitution to bring the lawyers out of the woodwork.

Under the normal process for any Constitutional amendment, once the necessary number of states ratify, the National Archivist, currently David Ferriero, certifies the ratification, puts it in the U.S. Constitution, end of story. But for the ERA, opponents have decided to use that arbitrary time limit as a sticking point.

In December, attorneys general from Alabama, Louisiana and South Dakota have filed a lawsuit against the National Archives, saying, he must not certify the ERA due to the time limit and state rescission. (“Rescissions” refers to the states that say they want to “unratify” their ratifications.) The Justice Department last fall sent an opinion to Ferriero that the ERA could not be adopted because the time limit expired.

In January, Equal Means Equal and others filed their own lawsuit against the archivist, saying the rescissions are not valid, and calling on Ferriero to record all state ratifications, dismissing a non-enforceable time limit. Later in January, the attorneys general of Illinois, Nevada and Virginia sued the archivist to execute his statutory duties and certify the ERA as part of the U.S. Constitution.

And, last week, the attorneys general of Alabama, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Tennessee waded in with a motion to intervene in the lawsuit filed by the Illinois, Nevada and Virginia Attorneys General, asking to be added as intervening defendants in the case against the Archivist.

Our national counterpart, ERA Coalition, along with multiple attorneys general and advocates nationwide continue to advocate amidst the various lawsuits to see that the certification of the ERA prevails.

Is it over now? Not yet. The wheels of democracy can turn slowly. Very slowly. But they do turn. And we will keep turning them until every person in America, no matter the sex, has equal rights under the law.

Teri Walley
Vice President, Communications
ERA-NC Alliance

Congressional District Action Network

February 23, 2020 by Audrey Muck Leave a Comment

New NC Congressional Districts as of 2/2020 — Click here to view a larger PDF version.

The ERA ratification bills will be re-introduced in the NC General Assembly in 2021, and we want to be sure there’s a network in place to activate a rapid response effort to help us get the word out about any state or federal level movement.

We’re creating this action network to connect individual activists on the county level to leaders at the Congressional District level, and from there to our state leadership.

You can find out what district(s) you’re in – both federal and state – on the NC General Assembly website.

As a member of the network, you’ll contact your representatives to encourage and remind them to sign on to the bills as co-sponsors, and spread the word to other ERA activists in your county. You’ll identify other organizations you can work with in coalition, and take direct action, which could include marches, vigils, celebrations, festivals, art, film, social media campaigns, interviews, petitions, phone banking, letter writing, proclamations, and resolutions.

As a Congressional District leader, you’ll be at the intersection of state and local action. Some of the things you would do include identifying county contact persons for each county in your Congressional District, network with chapters of Lead and Member organizations in your district to assist in establishing action teams and county contacts, distribute information from the state Action Network Chair, and provide resources and coaching to the county activists on direct actions. More information is on the position description statement.

We need Congressional District leaders for districts 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 13. Here’s a breakout of the counties in each district – those counties in green are split, but they’re marked in bold in the districts where they have a larger geographic area. Those in red are fairly evenly split between the two districts.

Learn more about the ERA, it’s history and the path to ratification, visit our Resources page.

To get the ball rolling in your county or Congressional District, you can fill out this form:

County Contact Campaign

Full Name*

E-mail*

Street Address*

City, State, Zip*

County*

Congressional District

Phone

Comments?

Join our Leadership Team

February 23, 2020 by Audrey Muck 1 Comment

As a part of Board development, the ERA-NC Alliance is always open to receiving applications of interest from those who wish to be considered to fill open positions and unexpired terms.

To be considered you need to be a member in good standing (completed the required membership forms/process and be current with dues, etc.) per our Bylaws. You may also wish to review the Board of Directors Election Process page.

If you are interested in having your application submitted to the Board Development pool, please review the bylaws which include our mission statement, and download and complete the application form. Please feel free to elaborate on your answers in Section 2. A resume and references may accompany the application, but are not necessary. You may scan and email the document(s) along with a photo of yourself, and return it to nominations@era-nc.org, or mail them to ERA-NC Alliance Nominations Committee, P.O. Box 20222, Winston-Salem, NC 27120.

Currently, ERA-NC has the following positions open:

Board Director (4)

Thank you so much for your membership with the Alliance. We are only as strong as the number of people willing to speak up and advocate for equal rights, and the coming year we will build on the momentum for the Equal Rights Amendment. Your energy and commitment will help to make the ERA a reality!