It’s time to put equality in the U.S. Constitution (And Joe Biden can do it today)

The Equal Rights Amendment could protect reproductive rights and provide the foundation for a more equitable future for all

Imagine if there were constitutional amendment that would protect reproductive rights — while also protecting LGBTQ rights and equality for all. It does exist. It’s the Equal Rights Amendment and it its main clause simply states “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” It is within Joe Biden’s power to enshrine it in the constitution today.

I spoke with Kate Kelly, author of Ordinary Equality: The Fearless Women And Queer People Who Shaped The U.S. Constitution And The Equal Rights Amendment and host of the podcast Ordinary Equality, about what the Equal Rights Amendment would do, how it could protect reproductive rights (and more!) and how easily we could achieve this transformational amendment. Says Kelly: “We are one signature away from finalizing a gender provision in the constitution and Joe Biden can make it happen.”

What would the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) do for women today? Is there a bullet point list of benefits?

A list of what the ERA would do never existed. Because it’s an amendment and not legislation, it…