To: Ellen DeGeneres

Ask Ellen To Address Equal Rights For Women On Her Show

Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. ~ The Equal Rights Amendment

Ellen, as one of the most beloved celebrities in America, you are in a unique position to help revive a national conversation about the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

A new movement to ratify the ERA is underway and is supported by a variety of grassroots equality groups and individual activists.

The sad fact is that most Americans don’t realize the ERA was never ratified into the Constitution and even sadder, a deadline was imposed and expired in 1982. A deadline for women’s equality!!! The deadline resulted in a lack of understanding of what equal rights for women means, and the push for it was drastically slowed. Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion regarding how the ERA will benefit all Americans.

The National Organization for Women has recently announced that they will only endorse and contribute to politicians who sign onto all paths to the ERA and to the International Women’s Treaty (CEDAW). This means politicians must support both the three-state and the start-over strategies if they want NOW’s endorsement. This IS BIG NEWS.

A coalition of women’s rights groups request that you talk about what is currently happening with the ERA by dedicating a portion of your show with a guest or panel of guests who will be able to help educate the public and dispel some of the myths and inaccurate information regarding equality – the activists who are aware of the current movement and the information on how it’s getting done. There are even some politicians who are not up-to-date on what is happening.

There is NO valid argument against constitutional equality for women.

One of the most important benefits of ratifying the ERA is that it will make pay equality FEDERAL LAW.

The Equal Rights Amendment would provide blanket protection to women for all time. State laws can be overturned and repealed, thus reversing positive strides and eroding the rights and freedoms women already have. As it stands, women do not have constitutional protection when it pertains to sexual and gender discrimination, fair and equal pay and the guarantee of a fair and balanced trial when a woman is raped—including women in the military. The arguments against the ERA have been weak and demonstrate a resistance towards progress as well as the intent to legislate inequality. America is one of the few industrialized nations that has not yet recognized its women as equals. It is now time to do the right thing and move our country forward.

It is extremely important to make sure Americans understand that the ERA is non-partisan. It isn’t only a liberal or Democrat issue and it has nothing to do with reproductive rights. In fact, Republicans were the party who originally introduced the ERA!

Please consider dedicating a portion of your show to the ERA and I will be more than happy to suggest some great guests.

Alice Paul fought hard to win women the right to vote. Paul penned the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923. Let us honor her passion and resolve. America needs you. Will you help?

Sponsors of this petition include:
Kimberley A. Johnson, Unite Women New York, Women Matter Use Your Power, We Are Fuse, ERA NOW, ERA Action, Progressive Democrats of America, Barbara ERA Anderson, We Are Woman, Charles Clymer of Equality for Women.

"Every Constitution written since the end of World War II includes a
provision that men and women are citizens of equal stature. Ours does not."

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Why is this important?

Ellen DeGeneres is an advocate for equality for all human beings and is an influential member of American society. If she allows for meaning conversation with educated guests to discuss the Equal Rights Amendment on her television program, millions of Americans will become aware of the new movement to ratify the ERA into the United States Constitution.