DPVA Chairwoman on Republican Attempts to Withdraw Virginia’s Support for Federal Certification of the Equal Rights Amendment

DPVA Chairwoman on Republican Attempts to Withdraw Virginia’s Support for Federal Certification of the Equal Rights Amendment

Richmond, VA — DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker released the following statement on the report that Attorney General Jason Mirayes and Republicans are attempting to circumvent the federal certification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

“In 2020, Democrats and Republicans in the Virginia General Assembly voted to make Virginia the 38th state to ratify the ERA, finally allowing gender equality to be enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Attorney General Miyares is now sabotaging two years of work by the Commonwealth to ensure federal certification, another truly sickening effort to drive his discriminatory, far-right and out-of-touch agenda. The ERA will provide essential constitutional recognition of gender equality, protect against any attempt to roll back the significant advances in women’s rights since the mid 20th century, and allow our nation to fully live up to our ideals of democracy. This raises one important question: What part of the word equality does he not believe in?

“Virginia Democrats will continue to fight for gender equality and remain steadfast in our opposition to Republican attempts to undermine the certification of the ERA.”