Letter to the Women of the House of Representatives - January 2020
There are 24 women in the SC House of Representatives — 12 Republicans and 12 Democrats. Even though the ERA is nonpartisan, and even though these people are women, we cannot assume their support. Many Republican women are taking the stance that the ERA is not needed today and is actually an insult to women. Neither of those statements are true. (For a list of ERA opponent talking points and our EmERA rebuttal, click here.)
House Joint Resolution H.3391 was filed by Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter last year and has support of both Republican and Democratic sponsors. The four women of the Senate — Margie Bright Matthews, Mia S. McLeod, Katrina Frye Shealy and Sandy Senn — have come together to sponsor a companion bill in the Senate (S.918). We are asking the Women of the House to come together as well and sign-on as sponsors of House Resolution H.3391.
Peter McCoy, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, cosponsored an ERA resolution last year as well with Rep Leon Stravrinakis. But when Peter heard of Gilda's bill, he deferred to her out of respect to her as a woman, as well as her role as the longest serving member of the SC House of Representatives. Peter is well regarded by members of the House. A quote from Peter is included below that you may choose to use in your letter.
Following is some suggested copy. You should be able to cut and paste into your software with minor adjustments. Below the letter are additional paragraphs that you might prefer. Use as is, or combine the copy to create a letter that speaks for you, in your own voice.
Also, if you have one, please consider sharing a personal memory or hope that you have of/for the ERA. If you can leave the recipient with just one good thought to remember, your letter will be a success.
Home addresses for the Women of the House can be found here. While we feel postcards get more attention at work, due to their color and volume, we think personal letters get more attention at home. The first 12 addresses are Republican women and should be your first priority.
Letter format and sample copy is below:
There are 24 women in the SC House of Representatives — 12 Republicans and 12 Democrats. Even though the ERA is nonpartisan, and even though these people are women, we cannot assume their support. Many Republican women are taking the stance that the ERA is not needed today and is actually an insult to women. Neither of those statements are true. (For a list of ERA opponent talking points and our EmERA rebuttal, click here.)
House Joint Resolution H.3391 was filed by Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter last year and has support of both Republican and Democratic sponsors. The four women of the Senate — Margie Bright Matthews, Mia S. McLeod, Katrina Frye Shealy and Sandy Senn — have come together to sponsor a companion bill in the Senate (S.918). We are asking the Women of the House to come together as well and sign-on as sponsors of House Resolution H.3391.
Peter McCoy, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, cosponsored an ERA resolution last year as well with Rep Leon Stravrinakis. But when Peter heard of Gilda's bill, he deferred to her out of respect to her as a woman, as well as her role as the longest serving member of the SC House of Representatives. Peter is well regarded by members of the House. A quote from Peter is included below that you may choose to use in your letter.
Following is some suggested copy. You should be able to cut and paste into your software with minor adjustments. Below the letter are additional paragraphs that you might prefer. Use as is, or combine the copy to create a letter that speaks for you, in your own voice.
Also, if you have one, please consider sharing a personal memory or hope that you have of/for the ERA. If you can leave the recipient with just one good thought to remember, your letter will be a success.
Home addresses for the Women of the House can be found here. While we feel postcards get more attention at work, due to their color and volume, we think personal letters get more attention at home. The first 12 addresses are Republican women and should be your first priority.
Letter format and sample copy is below:
January __, 2020
Representative ________
street
City SC ZIP
Dear Representative ________,
As a woman in the state of South Carolina, I am asking you to support ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in the South Carolina House by sponsoring Joint Resolution H.3391. I hope that you will follow the lead of the four women of the Senate (S.918), and send a message to your fellow legislators that you stand with women in support of equal rights for all South Carolina citizens.
In the United States today, women do not have “equal justice under law,” and the ERA was written to correct that omission. Our court system currently holds sex discrimination to a lesser standard of judicial review, which negatively affects the result of a fair judgement. The American Bar Association has said the ERA would raise that standard so that sex would be at par with race, religion and nation of origin when seeking judicial relief. We need your help to make that happen.
Thank you, in advance, for standing up for all our citizens. What a wonderful way for South Carolina to begin 2020.
name
Address
email (optional)
telephone # (optional)
Representative ________
street
City SC ZIP
Dear Representative ________,
As a woman in the state of South Carolina, I am asking you to support ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in the South Carolina House by sponsoring Joint Resolution H.3391. I hope that you will follow the lead of the four women of the Senate (S.918), and send a message to your fellow legislators that you stand with women in support of equal rights for all South Carolina citizens.
In the United States today, women do not have “equal justice under law,” and the ERA was written to correct that omission. Our court system currently holds sex discrimination to a lesser standard of judicial review, which negatively affects the result of a fair judgement. The American Bar Association has said the ERA would raise that standard so that sex would be at par with race, religion and nation of origin when seeking judicial relief. We need your help to make that happen.
Thank you, in advance, for standing up for all our citizens. What a wonderful way for South Carolina to begin 2020.
name
Address
email (optional)
telephone # (optional)
You may prefer the copy below. Cut, paste and modify as needed. The copy is from the Did you know and The ERA in South Carolina pages of this site (if you need some background, read our ERA 2020 Brochure). You may want to consider enclosing a copy of the the American Bar Association letter and/or a copy of the Strom Thurmond newsletter.
The ERA is a simple statement: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." It was modeled after the 19th amendment that gave women the right to vote. This year — 2020 — marks the 100-year anniversary of women gaining that right. How wonderful it would be to celebrate that occasion, by ratifying the ERA.
In 1940, the Republican Party became the first major political party to include the ERA in their election platform. Today, 94% of Americans support equal rights: 97% of Democrats; 90% of Republicans; and 92% of Independents. In fact, 80% of Americans think the Constitution already guarantees them. It does not. (ERA Polling 6.17.2016)
In an interview with the League of Women Voters, Judiciary Chair Peter McCoy said:
“Let's dispel a myth; most Americans think that women have equal rights grounded in the US Constitution. They do not, as the late Justice Antonin Scalia pointed out in 2010. What women have depended upon is statutory or changeable law from the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. That law is still on the books but key parts are increasingly unenforceable; a law is only as good as its enforcement.”
Consider adding a personal note. Here's mine:
The ERA came back on my radar when Nevada ratified in 2017. I hadn’t thought of it for years, but their ratification brought back my mother’s work in the ’70’s and how heartbroken she was when it failed. I remember her telling my father “I guess I’ll have to get used to being a second class citizen.” If there’s a chance to finish her work, I’m in. Barbara Fry
For a copy of the letter Equal Means ERA sent, click here.
Other letter writing tips and copy can be found here.
The ERA is a simple statement: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." It was modeled after the 19th amendment that gave women the right to vote. This year — 2020 — marks the 100-year anniversary of women gaining that right. How wonderful it would be to celebrate that occasion, by ratifying the ERA.
In 1940, the Republican Party became the first major political party to include the ERA in their election platform. Today, 94% of Americans support equal rights: 97% of Democrats; 90% of Republicans; and 92% of Independents. In fact, 80% of Americans think the Constitution already guarantees them. It does not. (ERA Polling 6.17.2016)
In an interview with the League of Women Voters, Judiciary Chair Peter McCoy said:
“Let's dispel a myth; most Americans think that women have equal rights grounded in the US Constitution. They do not, as the late Justice Antonin Scalia pointed out in 2010. What women have depended upon is statutory or changeable law from the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. That law is still on the books but key parts are increasingly unenforceable; a law is only as good as its enforcement.”
Consider adding a personal note. Here's mine:
The ERA came back on my radar when Nevada ratified in 2017. I hadn’t thought of it for years, but their ratification brought back my mother’s work in the ’70’s and how heartbroken she was when it failed. I remember her telling my father “I guess I’ll have to get used to being a second class citizen.” If there’s a chance to finish her work, I’m in. Barbara Fry
For a copy of the letter Equal Means ERA sent, click here.
Other letter writing tips and copy can be found here.