Harper Stands with Women, Joins Effort to Ratify Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

CHICAGO – State Rep. Sonya Harper, D–Chicago, is joining the fight to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution, which would guarantee constitutional protections against gender-based discrimination.

“The Equal Rights Amendment is long overdue,” Harper said. “Everyone, regardless of gender, sex or race, deserves equal treatment under the law and the Equal Rights Amendment will put women one step closer to full equality.”

Harper is cosponsoring Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 4 to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, which was previously approved by the Senate and is now under consideration by the House. If adopted, Illinois would become the 37th state to ratify the ERA, first approved by Congress in 1972. Approval by 38 states is required for amendments to the United States Constitution. The Equal Rights Amendment would guarantee constitutional protection of the rights of all citizens regardless of sex. The measures would help to provide clearer judicial standards for deciding cases of sex discrimination and help women combat wage discrimination in the workplace.