SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Last night, the Minnesota House of Representatives was expected to approve the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) bill. If approved by the Senate, there will be a question on the November, 2020, ballot asking Minnesotans to vote on whether our state constitution should be amended to read “equality under the law shall not be abridged or denied on account of gender.”
“Fairness is a fundamental value to Minnesotans. Our state constitution should reflect that,” said chief author Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL – New Brighton). “The equality Minnesota women and men have fought for in life, in work, in school and in our major institutions shouldn’t be taken for granted. It should be guaranteed.”
The ERA would create a permanent guarantee of gender equality under law, a cause that gained greater urgency when the #MeToo movement exposed stories of pervasive sexism, harassment and discrimination.
“Assumed equality for women is not enough — our state constitution should be clear that we have equal rights,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “It’s been 99 years since women fought for and achieved the right to vote. It’s long past time to pass equal rights amendments to the state and federal constitutions.”
“Women’s equality is a priority for the House DFL Majority, and we are demonstrating that today,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “Minnesota women deserve equal rights in all aspects of life. Moving this forward and putting equal rights into our state constitution is a positive statement about the Minnesota we want to build.”
A Senate companion, authored by Sen. Richard Cohen, awaits a hearing in the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. If ratified, the amendment will take effect on January 1, 2021.
An additional Minnesota House measure (H.F. 71) would call on the Federal Government to adopt a similar resolution to the U.S. Constitution.