What can you do to promote HB 399?

Talk to your friends and acquaintances about the importance of the bill. Tell them to talk to their friends and acquaintances.

Contact your state Representative and Senator and express your support for the bill.
(go here for contact information)

Here are some important points you can make when discussing the bill:

  • The vast majority of Americans believe that equal rights should exist for men and women. Most believe that women already have equal rights under our U.S. Constitution. They do not.  They never have.
  • “Certainly, the Constitution does not require discrimination on the basis of sex. The only issue is whether it prohibits it.   IT DOESN’T.”  Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia
  • It has been 95 years since an Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was first proposed. It has been 46 years since both houses of Congress approved the amendment and sent it to the states for ratification.  The amendment required 38 states for ratification.   It fell short by 3 states.  As a result, men and women are treated differently under our Constitution, as Justice Scalia succinctly explained.
  • In the absence of federal constitutional protections for 51% of our population, 23 states have taken it upon themselves to provide equal protections under their state constitutions. It is time for Delaware to do the same.
  • House Bill No. 299 was introduced in the Delaware House of Representatives on January 16, 2018. It says: “Equality of Rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged on account of the sex of the individual.”   It applies equally to both men and women.
  • House Bill 299 is simple justice.
  • House Bill 299 will provide protection against state and local laws that discriminate on the basis of sex.
  • Constitutions reflect and guide states’ and nations’ values. The absence of a federal ERA perpetuates a culture of disrespect for women. It is long past time to change that culture, beginning here in Delaware.
  • By adding an Equal Rights Amendment to our Constitution, Delaware will officially declare that “equal protection under the law” is a fundamental right, as it should be.
    • read more...

    Delaware’s Constitution Needs an ERA

    Leave a reply

    Delaware needs an equal rights amendment for women:
    Delaware Voice

    Suzanne Moore, Susan DelPesco, Aida Waserstein and Karen Peterson Published 3:11 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2018 | Updated 4:11 p.m. ET Feb. 1, 2018

    Beyond bringing women together in record numbers to say “Enough is enough,” the historic 2017 March on Washington and the more recent #MeToo movement have renewed energy for passage and ratification of an Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. read more...

    HB5 – Equal Rights Amendment to Delaware Constitution

    House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst introduces House Bill 5 for an Equal Rights Amendment to Delaware Constitution. “No person shall be denied equal rights under the law.” The bill has bipartisan and female and male cosponsors and supporters.

    Given the absence of federal protection of their rights, this bill is particularly important to women.

    Call, write, email your representative and senator to express your strong support and to urge passage of this landmark legislation. read more...