Here are some updates on what is going on with the Equal Rights Amendment as of June 2025.
Updates from National ERA Partners
Update on Recent Activities, State Legislation, and Partner Events
Florida: The Florida Federation of Democratic Women’s Club held its annual state convention last weekend, where pocket copies of the U.S. Constitution that included the 28th Amendment were provided to the attendees. The state chapter is pursuing the possibility of a similar handout at the Federation’s upcoming national convention. Partner organizations are encouraged to use similar opportunities to provide attendees with updated and “corrected” Constitutions.
Congressional Update:
- Representative Pressley’s bill H.J. Resolution 80 dropped on March 24, and it continues to gain co-sponsors. As of Friday, May 30th, there were 165 cosponsors. Our goal is to surpass the 215 bipartisan list of cosponsors from the 118th Congressional session. Review this list and commit to ensure that your Representative is a cosponsor. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pm8HoclJDR7_E5fCnQuJmSo3gFF1MQYd/edit?gid=1355451624#gid=1355451624
- Senator Murkowski’s bill, S.J. Resolution 38, was introduced on March 25th with Senator Hirono (HI) as the co-lead. The Senate bill is a companion bill to the House Resolution, and the two bills share the same name: A joint resolution establishing the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. We expect to add more Senate co-sponsors by targeting a group of likely Senators with whom we plan to schedule constituent visits in the coming weeks. For more information, contact Bettina Hager at [email protected]
- Representatives Pressley and Jennifer McClellan (VA) will co-chair the ERA Caucus, which was established in the 118th Congressional session. Plans are underway for a reboot, with an event scheduled for this summer.
ERA Litigation Efforts
- An important and relevant 28th Amendment case, Valame v. Joseph Robinette Biden, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. In the case, Vikram Valame, a student, is requesting “injunctive, declaratory and monetary relief requiring official defendants and agencies to treat women and men equally regarding registration for the military draft..
- Equal Means Equal filed the case, Equal Means Equal; Heroica Foundation; Jacqueline Fenore v. Trump, which challenges the constitutionality of the Military Selective Service Act that requires every male citizen to register, and can be reviewed at this link.
- The ERA Publication Task Force is preparing an Amicus Brief in the Valame v. Biden case and will reach out for sign-ons. The group, along with others, is concerned about the threat that the Valame v. Biden and US v. Skimetti cases pose to the ERA’s strict scrutiny standard of review. The concern is that cases will lead to the application of immediate scrutiny as the standard.
Upcoming Events
- June 4 at 2:00 PM ET: Titled "Public Funds, Private Agendas: NGOs Gone Wild." The ERA Coalition’s staff is monitoring attacks on civil society and not-for-profit organizations. This is a hearing of the DOGE Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Watch the hearing.
- June 10: Equality Now: Constitutional Equality Benefits Everyone: A Discussion for Men on the ERA. Join speakers from Equality Now, ERA Coalition, Equimundo, and A Call to Men. Learn more and register here for this important and often-overlooked conversation on June 10 at 12:00 PM (Noon).
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June 8 and June 13: Join our colleagues at the Raben Group who are partnering with makers of PRIME MINISTER, to screen the critically-acclaimed documentary feature about The Right Honorable Dame Jacinda Ardern, the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand. You can see a trailer here.
- Elected at 37 years old, Ardern is only the second world leader to give birth while in office. PRIME MINISTER follows Ardern’s electrifying campaign and historic tenure, confronting significant challenges, including a live-streamed domestic terror attack targeting New Zealand’s Muslim community, a volcanic eruption, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The film premiered at Sundance and is getting rave reviews so far for its display of “what it looks like when a leader prioritizes compassion over politics.”
- June 8: Early Access Simulcast – A special advance screening opportunity featuring an exclusive simulcast interview between Ms. Ardern and Abby Phillip, CNN anchor. This will be the only opportunity to view this exclusive interview. j
- June 13: Wide Release – The film opens nationwide in theaters across the country.
- Tickets for both events can be purchased here.
Attached HERE is the list of AMC theaters that will feature the early screening and the wide release. Reach out to [email protected] for more information.
ICYMI