We need the ERA to guarantee protection of women's rights because we are still underrepresented in the government, as well as many other fields that still have glass ceilings.  Germany resident / Arkansas voter

"We support women and girls in elected office." "We support women and girls getting paid the same as men in professional sports." "We support women and girls in S.T.E.M.M. [science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine] fields."  ...All too often we hear these phrases, but without a constitutional guarantee that the United States practices what it preaches and indeed protects, supports, and encourages women and girls to thrive in American society, the current practice of sex discrimination will continue to make an appearance in America's schools, board rooms, military bases, sports fields, and everywhere in between. It is unconscionable that in the 21st century women are still often told things like they're not allowed to breastfeed in public, they're not "tough enough" to do traditionally-men's roles in the Armed Forces, and "because they dressed like that, they had it coming." It is time for policymakers to walk the walk and defend women by passing the Equal Rights Amendment and taking one step further to realizing true equality among American citizens. As an American who has spent enormous time living and traveling abroad, I have seen first-hand what equality looks like and what it certainly doesn't look like in various parts of the world. The United States needs to step up and be the democratic role model its citizens and others look for it to be. #EqualRightsAmendmentNow! -Michael Ramos, Democrats Abroad, Resident of Australia and Absentee Voter in Illinois

Both my children, my daughter and my son, deserve an America in which equality is made explicit in law - gender, racial, etc. The promises made to me in school, as a women, were not delivered on in the workplace. It is long past time to follow through on the promises we make to girls and boys - that pay equity will be achieved, that violence against women will addressed, that women are fundamentally believed to be equal to men. Lives in China, Votes in Michigan

Well-meaning people sometimes wonder why an ERA is still needed in this world where our Vice-President is a woman, women are CEOs and the US Women's Soccer Team is the best in the world... but it's needed exactly because of well-meaning people - who never intend to discriminate. In today's world, most (but unfortunately not all) discrimination or forms of violence go unrecognized because they're interwoven into notions of "that's the way things are". The ERA is needed because it would turn the question around. As an article published by NOW states: "[it] would ....shift the burden of proof to the party accused of discrimination. Without a constitutional amendment clarifying women’s legal standing, women will continue to have to wage extended, costly and challenging political and legal battles for equal rights." https://now.org/resource/is-the-equal-rights-amendment-relevant-in-the-21st-century/ Gail Fagen, Italy, Iowa Voter

Equality is a truth, and I am ashamed that the United States of American doesn't formally recognize that truth in the U.S. Constitution. By making the ERA a law of the land, we would send the message that equality is indeed an inalienable right, and not just a promise that can be easily broken or manipulated. Every day, in some form or another, I have conversations with my children about equality, and it is so shocking to me that equality is not formally protected in the U.S. Equal rights are important to me because I am a parent, and I don't just want the ideals of equality coming from me, but I want those ideals supported by my home country; the country of my citizenship. Stayce Camparo, residing in Germany, voting in Kansas

How can it be that in 2021 that US women do not have rights guaranteed in the US Constitution? And how can it be that over 88% of all countries do but the US does not? That alone is my reason to support the Equal Rights Amendment. The ERA passed in the US House and US Senate in 1972, the year I graduated from college. I remember then, as I started my career, being surprised to learn how difficult it was for a woman to get a credit card. So many things have improved during my life for women but so many more improvements are needed. I see the ERA as one way to improve equality for women in laws, rules, and hopefully also in behavior. After retiring in 2016, I thought about the next phase of my life. I have several interest areas, but I concluded that for me, devoting my time to help women win equal rights in the US Constitution was where I wanted to focus my energy. I had spent the last 10 years of my career in the humanitarian aid sector. Hunger relief was a key part of that. Having spent lots of time in Africa, I realized there was a strong connection with women’s rights and food on the table. So rather than focusing just on hunger relief, I decided that women’s rights and issues were a higher priority. And the place where I could make an impact would be in the USA. I see the ERA as an opportunity for the US to demonstrate it cares about women. That act could encourage women in other countries to push harder for more gender equity in their country. The ERA is not a silver bullet to solve all gender equity issues however the ERA lays a foundation for equity in laws and rules that hopefully spills over into people’s behaviors and beliefs. I strongly believe that women must have equal rights spelled out in the US Constitution and the ERA is the way to do just that.   Shari Temple, Residing in Germany, Voting in Texas