Our Minnesota state constitution is 167 years old, written the same year as the dreaded Dred Scott decision. It’s showing its age.
There is no equal rights clause in it, though 27 other states have some form of state equal rights amendment embedded in their constitution. Minnesota is unexceptional when it comes to equality. It’s way past time to pass the state Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) into our Minnesota Constitution.
The proposed robust Minnesota state Equal Rights Amendment (Senate File 37) provides the strongest possible protections regardless of race, color, ancestry, national origin, disability, or sex — including but not limited to pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive freedom, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
These are Minnesota values. Discrimination is not a Minnesota value.
There are two steps to amending our State Constitution: First, the Legislature must vote to put it onto the general election ballot, then voters can decide with our vote.
The Minnesota Legislature needs to do its part in 2024 to advance equal rights for all in this state. Though the state Senate passed the ERA bill in a wildly bipartisan vote in 2023, the state House failed to pass it. If they don’t pass it again this year, it could hold rights back for another generation.
Poll after poll shows that both the ERA and reproductive freedom are top priorities in this state. The two issues combined are stronger yet. Today, as women’s rights, LGBTQI+ rights, and rights of marginalized and intentionally minoritized communities are being stripped away in states, we must demand the freedom to determine our own destiny. Embed equality into our strongest legal document, the constitution, to put our rights out of reach of future reactionary legislators and courts. Our strongest legal document should reflect the full humanity of all people.
People of all ages are invited to join ERA Minnesota and partners at the ERA Minnesota Lobby Day called #Day1forERA at the Capitol Rotunda on Monday, February 12, at 10 a.m. Together we can get ERA done. To learn more and to get involved, go to eramn.org. You can also contact your state senator and representative here. Ask them to champion the robust, all-inclusive ERA ballot initiative in 2024.
Waiting means never. Not one more year. Time to let the people vote.
