Minnesota ERA Working Its Way Through the MN House
St. Paul, MN, February 6, 2019 –

The Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment (HF13 Kunesh-Podein) cleared the House State Government Finance committee this morning by a 9-4 roll call vote.

The legislation would place the amendment on the statewide ballot in 2020 asking Minnesotans to add the following language “Equality under the law shall not be abridged or denied on account of gender” to the state constitution.

“Having these fourteen words on the ballot will give Minnesotans the opportunity to choose whether or not they want to live in a state where all people are protected equally by our state’s legal system.” said M. Kathleen Murphy, Vice-President of ERA Minnesota, who appeared before the committee today. “Now is the time to take the next step towards a more equal Minnesota.”

Legislation supporting the amendment has been introduced every year since 1983. This is the first year it has passed out of committee. ERA Minnesota (ERAmn), the organization advocating for the amendment, expects the legislation to pass the House this legislative session.

The equal rights amendment is about creating opportunities for everyone regardless of their gender. A few things the Minnesota ERA is intended to do are:

• Provide certainty and stability to Minnesota’s legal system by setting a clear legal standard that everyone, regardless of their gender, is protected equally under the law.

• Help address serious issues in Minnesota like the gender violence, workplace discrimination, and the wage gap.

• Create a more open society where people have the opportunity to choose their path regardless of their gender.

The bill will be heard next in the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law committee.