HEA for ERA
Happy Ever After meets the Equal Rights Amendment
Every July, for as long as I can remember, I went to a massive conference of women. I used to attend the annual convention of Romance Writers of America, a gathering of thousands of romance readers, writers and fans. We all got connected, informed, inspired and empowered.
This July, I found myself in Seneca Falls, New York for a convention on the Equal Rights Amendment. The place and the timing was significant. In Seneca Falls 175 years ago that month, women first called for the right to vote. Seventy-two years later, in 1920, the 19th amendment granting female suffrage was ratified. Shortly after, Suffragist Alice Paul realized women still needed more constitutional protection and in July of 1923, she proposed the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). A hundred years later, and we’re still fighting to get equality in the US Constitution. This year, a few hundred (mostly) women met to get connected, inspired and empowered to get this amendment done. Ms. Magazine has a great write up of the convention.
Yet another July in which I attended a conference full of women :-)
The Equal Rights Amendment 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.
If you care about equal pay, abortion access, trans rights, or LGBTQ rights, you should care about ensuring the Equal Rights Amendment is part of the United States Constitution. This isn’t just a matter of equality for women, but for all of us. We are one signature away from making it happen.
Like a romance conference, the two days were a blend of workshops and inspiring speeches. I attended ones on taking direct action and organizing at the state and local level. There were also random opportunities to connect with strangers. One of the best things RWA ever did for me was reveal the magic of just sitting down with a group of women I didn’t know and chatting until you find common ground and connection. So, at lunch time, where I knew no one, I plunked myself down at a table and lo and behold, after ten minutes of convo, I learned that they are all romance readers.
As I’ve often said, I write books for women who are leaning in all day. I write stories that are an escape and that help a person recharge their batteries so they can go forward happy and hopeful. The women I met at this conference were lawyers and worked in politics. They were kids and college students. They were grandmas and activists and artists. They are all committed to a fight that is still slogging on a hundred years later. And a bunch of them are powered by romance novels.
What does the romance genre have to do with the Equal Rights Amendment?
Everything. We write stories and imagine worlds where people can be their truest selves and will find other people who love them for it. Where love is love. Where consent is sexy and bodily autonomy is a basic right. We write worlds where HEA is not denied or abridged on account of sex. I would even argue that equality is as much a core value to Romancelandia as the HEA. Because there is no HEA without equality.
There is still work to do. The Amendment has been ratified by the required 38 states and by all rights should be published as the 28th Amendment. But over the years, procedural hurdles have been deliberately enacted and presently, the archivist has not published the amendment, which is the last final step. Congresswoman Cori Bush and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand have introduced legislation to get this done—this New York Times article is a great explainer.
But know this: we have never been closer to constitutional equality. It’s time to loudly demand that President Biden gets it done.
If you believe in equality:
—> Sign this petition to show that the people want the ERA. If the Supreme Court wants to take this on, we want them to know the people demand equality.
—> This article from Ms. is a great explainer on the strategy for final recognition for the ERA.
—> Read my interview with an ERA activist explaining how we are one signature away from the ERA. Seriously!
—> Follow these groups on Instagram to stay informed: @generationratify, @sign4era, @eracoalition.