STATEMENT: Biden’s Backing of Equal Rights Amendment Certification Energizes the Fight for Gender Equality 

January 17. 2025

The follow is a statement from Noreen Farrell, Executive Director of Equal Rights Advocates, in response to President Biden affirming certification of the Equal Rights Amendment on the eve of his departure from the White House.

SAN FRANCISCO– President Biden ended the Biden-Harris Administration as it began: standing up for women’s equality. In a statement issued today, President Biden agreed with the American Bar Association (ABA) that the Equal Rights Amendment has cleared all legal requirements to become the 28th Amendment to the the United States Constitution, which would guarantee all Americans equal rights and protections under the law, regardless of their sex. 

Additional steps remain in order for the amendment to take effect. Backed by the ABA’s legal position and President Biden’s statement today, Equal Rights Advocates joins the ERA Coalition in calling on the National Archivist to publish and certify this amendment.

“This is the moment to accelerate our momentum, not just hold the line.”

The Equal Rights Amendment would be a force multiplier for battles we’re already fighting. President Biden’s historic affirmation comes at a pivotal moment. With an expected wave of regressive executive orders threatening to roll back hard-won protections, the Equal Rights Amendment offers new legal armor. It would put sex equality protections on the constitutional “high shelf,” out of reach of judicial or legislative whims. The ERA would also require the government to demonstrate a compelling state interest when restricting rights based on sex.

The Equal Rights Amendment isn’t just a shield against discrimination. It stands to catalyze the next wave of progress. A constitutional amendment could provide a foundation for the passage of new and more robust laws defending women and girls. These include legislative pushes in the states, including those to protect abortion in Texas, require pay transparency in Missouri, ensure medical privacy in California, and combat gender-based violence in Georgia.

Rights must be defended through strategic action and relentless advancement. This is the moment to accelerate our momentum, not just hold the line. We and our partners are launching coordinated campaigns for economic justice, expanding paid family leave to include chosen families, and dismantling systemic barriers in male-dominated industries. The Equal Rights Amendment plays a critical role in this push for progress.

To request an interview with ERA experts, contact Blake Case at [email protected] or 601-832-6079.

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About Equal Rights Advocates

Equal Rights Advocates fights for gender justice in workplaces and schools across the country. Since 1974, they have been fighting on the front lines of social justice to protect and advance rights and opportunities for women, girls, and people of all gender identities through groundbreaking legal cases and bold legislation that sets the stage for the rest of the nation.