Why the Equal Rights Amendment Matters to Seniors
On January 17, 2025, outgoing President Joe Biden declared that “[t]he Equal Rights Amendment ("ERA") is the law of the land, guaranteeing all Americans equal rights and protections under the law regardless of their sex.” This declaration came as a surprise to many, but he had been urged to do so by, among others, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) before leaving office. However, the former President did not direct the Archivist to publish it. Enforcement is, therefore, left to the states, the courts, the Congress, as well as those of us who want to see it enforced.
Justice would be best served, and seniors—men and women—would be better protected if the ERA were added as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. The benefits would include equal access to health care, social security, insurance, housing, and the right of privacy. But first, a little of the history of and battle over the ERA, which has been going on for over 100 years!
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"Why the Equal Rights Amendment Matters to Seniors," by Joan M. Bondareff was published in the April/May 2025 edition of the American Bar Association’s Senior Lawyers Division Voice of Experience newsletter.