The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), SJRCA 75, has reared its ugly head once again in Illinois. SJRCA 75 passed the State Senate on May 22nd, 2014, with a vote of 39 – 11 – 6. It could be called in the House during the fall veto session (Nov. 19th, 20th, 21st and Dec. 2nd, 3rd and 4th.)
No one is opposed to “equal rights,” but that’s not what the ERA is about.
“Equality of rights under law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex. The Congress shall have the power to enforce by appropriate legislation the provisions of this article. This Amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.”[Emphasis added)
The ERA will remove all legal distinctions between sexes.
In other words, all federal, state and local laws, policies and regulations favoring either males or females would be unconstitutional under ERA. Laws including marriage, divorce, family-property law, child custody, adoptions, abortions, alimony, some criminal laws, age limits for marriage and the age of consent, public and private schools, prison regulations, and insurance rates, veterans benefits, boy and girl scouts, tax exemptions for single-sex schools would be challenged if ERA is passed.
Resources:
Nine Reasons to Reject the Equal Rights Amendment
The ERA, Abortion & Same-Sex Marriage
The ERA and the War on Women [Brochure]
The Far Reaching Effects of the ERA
Equal Rights Amendment and the War on Women by Laurie Higgins
The Resurrected ERA Must be Defeated by Laurie Higgins
Video: Interview with Elise Bouc of Stop ERA Illinois [Shortened Version]
