Equal Rights Amendment North Carolina Alliance

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NCGA Bills Will Protect Marriage Equality

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Equality champion Rep. Deb Butler files two bills to protect same-sex marriage in N.C.

Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, North Carolina still has a ban on the books regarding same-sex marriage.

State Rep. Deb Butler’s first proposal, House Bill 174, would obliterate the ban and affirm the federal protections of all married couples, regardless of gender.

The second bill, House Bill 175, seeks a state constitutional amendment explicitly safeguarding marriage equality in North Carolina. This amendment would ensure protection even if the federal Supreme Court has second thoughts.

“Deb Butler has long been a champion for Equal Rights, so it came as no surprise to see her seek a state constitutional amendment to protect same-sex marriage in North Carolina,” said Marla Barthen, ERA-NC Alliance co-president and Butler’s constituent. “If you know her, you know she does not yield or back down on matters of equality.”

Given a shifting federal judiciary, North Carolina has the power to fortify civil rights protections for all its citizens. Butler said, “Marriage equality is a settled issue for the vast majority of Americans, and our state should reflect that reality. These bills are about ensuring dignity, security and legal protection for all families in the face of uncertainty at the federal level.”

We applaud Rep. Deb Butler for her strong support of human rights, from same-sex marriage security to equality for all through the 28th Amendment, formerly known as the Equal Rights Amendment.

2021 Annual Meeting

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ERA-NC Alliance Annual Meeting

Saturday, October 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Online via Zoom

Our keynote speaker for the annual meeting is Allison Titman, Executive Director of the Alice Paul Institute. She has held leadership, curatorial, and exhibit management roles at several historic house museums in the Washington, D.C. region, as well as the Women’s Memorial at Arlington Cemetery. You can learn more about the excellent work the Alice Paul Institute is doing at their website; they also have lots of background information and photos of Alice Paul herself there as well.

[Read more…] about 2021 Annual Meeting

Precinct Resolutions

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It’s precinct meeting time! Here is a non-partisan resolution in support of North Carolina’s ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment for you to use this to introduce at your precinct meetings toward getting the Equal Rights Amendment into your party’s platform. You can also download the resolution here.

 

A Resolution Calling for Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (2022)

WHEREAS, women, who constitute over 51% of the population of North Carolina (N.C.), play an essential and irreplaceable role in society, contributing to our economy and advancing our nation in both public and private realms; and

[Read more…] about Precinct Resolutions

Ratification Bills Introduced

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Ratification Bills Introduction Day – March 5th, 2019

Bills to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment were introduced in both houses of the North Carolina General Assembly on March 5th. ERA-NC Alliance organized a statewide presence in Raleigh, with ERA advocates from the coast to the mountains on hand to witness the introductions and to encourage every single member of the General Assembly to sign on as a co-sponsor. A panel discussion was held in the NCGA Equal Rights Caucus featuring Eleanor Smeal of the Feminist Majority, and Carol Jenkins and Bettina Hager of the ERA Coalition, with ERA-NC Alliance co-president Joanna Wade as moderator. That was followed by a press conference with the bills’ primary sponsors and many co-sponsors present. A mobile billboard organized by Alliance Lead Organization, League of Women Voters of NC, also circled the capitol throughout the day!

Press Conference video:

Equal Rights Caucus video:

Video courtesy of Brave Lens Films, Inc.

 

2018 Candidates Surveys

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The ERA-NC Alliance reached out to EVERY North Carolina candidate running for Congress and the General Assembly this year! We called as many candidates individually as we could, and sent out postcards as well.

A ‘yes’ means the candidate will co-sponsor and vote for the resolution to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Many candidates also returned comments with their survey; you can read their comments in this document.

Candidate Survey Results
NC HOUSE Name Supports ERA?
1 Edward Goodwin Yes
1 Ronald Wesson Yes
2 Darryl Moss Yes
3 T. Lee Horne No
3 Barbara Lee Yes
3 Michael Speciale No
4 DaQuen Love Yes
5 Howard Hunter III Yes
6 Tess Judge Yes
7 Bobbie Richardson Yes
8 Kandie Smith Yes
10 Tracy Blackmon Yes
11 Allison Dahle Yes
11 Travis Groo Yes
12 George Graham Yes
13 Penelope diMaio Yes
14 Isaiah Johnson Yes
16 John Johnson Yes
17 Tom Simmons Yes
19 Marcia Morgan Yes
20 Leslie Cohen Yes
26 Linda Bennett Yes
29 MaryAnn Black Yes
30 Marcia Morey Yes
31 Zack Hawkins Yes
32 Terry Garrison Yes
33 Rosa Gill Yes
33 Anne Murtha Yes
35 Michael Nelson Yes
36 Julie von Haefen Yes
37 Sydney Batch Yes
39 Darren Jackson Yes
40 Joe John Yes
41 Gale Adcock Yes
42 Marvin Lucas Yes
43 John Czajkowski Yes
44 Linda Devore Yes
44 Billy Richardson Yes
45 Albeiro Florez Yes
48 Russell Walker No
49 Cynthia Ball Yes
50 Graig Meyer Yes
52 Lowell Simon Yes
53 Richard Chapman Yes
56 Verla Insko Yes
57 Ashton Clemmons Yes
60 Cecil Brockman Yes
61 Pricey Harrison Yes
62 Martha Shafer Yes
63 Erica McAdoo Yes
66 Justin Miller Yes
68 Richard Foulke Yes
71 Evelyn Terry Yes
74 Terri LeGrand Yes
75 Dan Besse Yes
76 Joe Fowler Yes
76 Harry Warren Yes
77 Bonnie Dawn Clark Yes
78 James Meredith, Jr. Yes
79 Jerry Langley Yes
80 Wendy Sellars Yes
81 Lewie Phillips Yes
82 Aimy Steele Yes
84 Allen Edwards Yes
85 Howard Larsen Yes
86 Tim Barnsback Yes
87 Amanda Bregel Yes
88 Mary Belk Yes
89 Greg Cranford Yes
95 Carla Fassbender Yes
96 Kim Bost Yes
97 Natalie Robertson Yes
98 Christy Clark Yes
99 Nasif Majeed Yes
100 John Autry Yes
101 Carolyn Logan Yes
102 Becky Carney Yes
103 Rachel Hunt Yes
106 Carla Cunningham Yes
109 Susan Maxon Yes
113 Sam Edney Yes
114 Susan Fisher Yes
115 John Ager Yes
116 Brian Turner Yes
117 Gayle Kemp Yes
117 Chuck McGrady Yes
118 Rhonda Cole Schanderel Yes
119 Joe Sam Queen Yes
     
NC SENATE Name  
1 D. Cole Phelps Yes
2 Ginger Garner Yes
2 Tim Harris No
3 Charles Earley Yes
3 Erica Smith-Ingram Yes
4 Jesse Shearin Yes
6 Joseph Webb Yes
7 Barbara Dantonio Yes
8 Dr. David Sink, Jr. Yes
9 Harper Peterson Yes
10 Vernon Ray Moore Yes
11 Albert Pacer Yes
14 Daniel Blue Yes
15 Jay Chaudhuri Yes
16 Wiley Nickel Yes
17 Sam Searcy Yes
19 Kirk Deviere Yes
20 Floyd McKissick, Jr. Yes
22 Mike Woodard Yes
23 Valerie Foushee Yes
24 JD Wooten Yes
25 Helen Probst Mills Yes
28 Gladys Robinson Yes
30 Jen Mangrum Yes
31 John Motsinger, Jr. Yes
40 Joyce Waddell Yes
41 Natasha Marcus Yes
42 Ric Vandett Yes
43 Altriese Price Yes
44 David Lattimore Yes
46 Art Sherwood Yes
47 David Wheeler Yes
48 Norm Bossert Yes
49 Mark Crawford Yes
49 Terry Van Duyn Yes
     
US HOUSE Name  
2 Jeff Matemu Yes
5 DD Adams Yes
6 Ryan Watts Yes
8 Frank McNeill Yes
10 David Brown Yes
11 Phillip Price Yes
 
 

2018 Annual Meeting

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You’re invited to attend the
ERA-NC Alliance Annual Meeting

Saturday, October 6, 2018
Noon – 4 pm
(Registration opens at 11:30 am)

Parkway United Church of Christ
2151 Silas Creek Pkwy, Winston-Salem, NC 27103

Keynote Speaker: Carol Robles-Roman
Co-President and CEO of the ERA Coalition/Fund for Women’s Equality

Ms. Robles-Roman will share news about the exciting work being done nationwide toward ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, from the hugely successful shadow hearing on Capitol Hill to the ERA Roadshow.
Prior to joining the ERA Coalition, Robles-Roman was the President and CEO of Legal Momentum, where she spearheaded legislative, legal and policy efforts to ensure equal rights for women and girls; to combat human trafficking and violence against women; and to protect women’s economic security. Carol was Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs and Counsel to NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg for 12 years. She served as a NYS assistant attorney general for civil rights. Read more about Ms. Robles-Roman.

We will celebrate the state ratification count now at 37 – with just one more state to go! We’ll review our efforts across North Carolina, from municipal resolutions supporting state ratification, to our Congressional Action Teams, to the progress we’re making at the General Assembly.

We will also celebrate our 2018-2019 ERA Champion Award winners:

NC Senator

Erica D. Smith

NC Representative

Deb Butler

The ERA Champion Award is presented to persons who demonstrate superior leadership efforts in advocating for the ideals of equality and justice for women. Advocates are dedicated to the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and make exceptional contributions to achieve its passage. Senator Smith and Representative Butler have clearly demonstrated this dedication over the past year – and beyond! We’re delighted that they will join us at our annual meeting!

Business meeting: During the business portion of our meeting, we will hold elections for officers and board members, and review proposed bylaws changes. Learn more about our candidates for Board of Directors and Officer positions. You can also read the minutes from the 2017 Annual Meeting.

 — Meeting registration is now closed —

 

Audio from ERA Press Conference

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NC Senator Floyd McKissick
NC Sen. Floyd McKissick
NC Senator Terry Van Duyn
NC Sen. Terry Van Duyn

This afternoon, ERA ratification bill sponsor, Senator Floyd McKissick, Jr. and co-sponsor Terry Van Duyn, took part in a press conference about women’s rights bills filed at the statehouse. Like Illinois Rep. Lou Lang, Senator McKissick has also been a tireless advocate for women’s constitutional equality, introducing the bill year after year, and he has our deepest gratitude!

Senator Van Duyn credits ERA-NC Alliance co-President, Roberta Madden, for showing her that the ERA was still a viable amendment.

This afternoon, ERA ratification bill (S. 782) sponsor, Senator Floyd McKissick, Jr. and co-sponsor Terry Van Duyn, took part in a press conference about women’s rights bills filed at the statehouse, moderated by Senator Erica Smith.

The ERA portion of the conference is available for you to listen to below,:

ERA Postcard Drop

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We’re collecting postcards to deliver to the NC House and Senate Rules Committee chairmen urging them to hold a hearing on the ERA ratification bills currently sitting idle in their committees!

Download the cards below (they come 4 to a page, landscape), print them out and invite your friends and family, work colleagues and acquaintances to sign on! We’re collecting the cards and will deliver them en masse to the Chairmen personally in the coming weeks.

Congressional District 10 Action Team leader, Jimmie Cochran Pratt, and ERA-NC Alliance Board Member, Anne Von Brock, recently made a night of it, printing the cards out and getting them ready to distribute!

You can also make phone calls now, we have the phone numbers and suggestions for what to say when you call here: “The NCGA is Back in Session”.