Equal Rights Amendment: the time is now!
by Cynthia Nimerichter
Several weeks ago, the Denver Post ran an article about the Equal Rights Amendment and the fact that it has never been ratified. In the 1970s, I marched in the streets in support of this measure but to date only 35 states ratified the proposed constitutional amendment. To become part of the U.S. Constitution, three more states would need to vote in favor of it.
I mentioned to a young friend that I had not given much thought to the ERA in many years. My 30-something friend's response? "What is the ERA?" My friend is very politically savvy and more up-to-date than I am on legislation dealing with discrimination. But her response brought home to me that if the ERA is to ever pass, members of the old guard, including me, need to educate a new generation.
The ERA is fairly simple. Here is the proposal in full:
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Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
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Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
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Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.
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This language would guarantee that the rights affirmed by the U.S. Constitution are held equally by all citizens without regard to sex. Sex would be considered a suspect classification, as race currently is.
The Equal Rights Amendment was written in 1923 by Alice Paul, a leader of the woman suffrage movement and a lawyer. It was introduced in Congress in the same year and subsequently reintroduced in every Congressional session for half a century. In 1972 it was finally sent to the states. The deadline for ratification has long passed but a bill is in Congress now, introduced in March of 2011, which would remove the deadline and allow the amendment to be accepted when three more states pass it.
Read more about the Equal Rights Amendment
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Vote!
If you haven't voted in the municipal runoff election yet, or if you haven't received your ballot, it's not to late to make your voice heard!
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If you are considered "inactive" because you didn't
 vote in the November 2010 election, and you haven't recently moved or changed your name, you can go to the City Clerk's Office, 30 S. Nevada Avenue, Suite 101, with identification, to request your ballot.
- Voters who have a name or address change must first get an updated Voter Registration form from one of the three El Paso County Election Offices. The downtown office is Centennial Hall, 200 S Cascade Avenue, open M-F 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. You may then go to the City Clerk's Office to get your ballot!
Once you have your ballot, you may drop it off TOMORROW, May 17, before 7pm at one of the following locations:
City Clerk's Office, 30 S. Nevada Ave., Suite 101
Colo. Springs Senior Center, 1514 N. Hancock Ave.
Fire Station #8, 3737 Airport Rd.
Fire Station #17, 3750 Tutt Blvd.
Fire Station #19, 2490 Research Parkway
Fire Station #20, 6755 Rangewood Dr.
Gold Hill Police Substation, 955 W. Moreno Ave.
Still haven't decided how you'll vote? Check out Citizens Project's comprehensive election education webpage, or read our Freedom Watch Voter Guide to find out how candidates Richard Skorman and Steve Bach responded to our candidate questionnaire.
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Creating Community Breakfast
Join Citizens Project at our Creating Community Breakfast!
Save the date and join Citizens Project at the 7th annual Creating Community Breakfast! This fun and free fundraising breakfast will feature speakers, musical entertainment and a few surprises. 
Thursday, June 9, 2011
7:30 - 8:30am (check-in begins at 7:00am)
Bigg City Event Center,
5825 Mark Dabling Blvd
(south entrance)
Learn more about the work Citizens Project is doing in the Pikes Peak region to promote equal rights, diversity, religious freedom through separation of church and state and civic engagement, and learn how you can help! RSVP now to reserve your seat. If you're interested in being a Table Captain at the breakfast, please contact Bailey!
Thanks to our sponsors:
 
 
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Get Involved
Speak out on Sex Ed!
If you're an educator or administrator, please consider making your voice heard in this survey about sex education in Colorado schools, brought to you by the Healthy Colorado Youth Alliance: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6F2N68L
Public Safety Sales Tax (PSST) Oversight Committee seeks new members The City of Colorado Springs is seeking a volunteer to fill the open position for council district one on the Public Safety Sales Tax Oversight Committee (PSSTOC). District one covers the northwest part of the City; a council district map can be found at www.sprignsgov.com/election. The PSSTOC monitors the expenditure of the Public Safety Sales Tax (PSST) funds and ensures that the items approved by voters at the November 6, 2001 election are accomplished with PSST funds. Additionally, the PSSTOC reviews the annual PSST and General Fund Preliminary Budget as submitted to City Council to ensure that the baseline funding for General Fund public safety expenditures is maintained. Meetings typically take place on the first Wednesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. and there are other occasional meetings as necessary. Send letters of interest and resumes before Friday, May 27 to mdevine@springsgov.com or mail to City Council; Attention Marti Devine Sletta; P.O. Box 1575; Colorado Springs, CO 80901. Or, fill out the Application for Appointment to a City Board, Committee or Commission, which can be found at www.SpringsGov.com by clicking on "Commissions and Committees" on the homepage. For questions or more information, please call (719) 385-5453. Volunteers needed to serve on Parks and Recreation Advisory Board The City of Colorado Springs is seeking two citizen volunteers to serve on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Two positions are open; one at-large member and one member to serve as the liaison between the Parks Board and the Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) Working Committee. Applicants must have a letter of endorsement from a nonprofit open space group. As an advisory body to the City Council on parks and recreation resources within the City, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board reviews matters pertaining to the planning, development, improvement, beautification, equipping and maintaining the public parks, playgrounds, programs, urban forest, recreation facilities and resources including golf courses and center street medians. Meetings take place the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 a.m. Send letters of interest and resumes before Friday, May 27 to mdevine@springsgov.com or mail to City Council; Attention Marti Devine Sletta; P.O. Box 1575; Colorado Springs, CO 80901. Or, fill out the Application for Appointment to a City Board, Committee or Commission, which can be found at www.SpringsGov.com by clicking on "Commissions and Committees" on the homepage. (The application cannot be submitted online at this time. Please send to the e-mail or physical address above.) For questions or more information, please call (719) 385-5453.
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Articles of Interest
US Navy Gives OK for On Base Same-Sex Marriages
May 9, 2011 LezGetReal
read it here
NOREEN: Don't bully gays or anyone else
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Recent CP Blog Posts
Join the Conversation
Citizens Project responds to graduation ceremonies at churches read it here Election Season Rolls On... |
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Upcoming Events
NAACP Community Juneteenth Celebration Saturday June 18: Armstrong Quad. 10AM-5PM It celebrates freedom for all people and an end to all oppression. Join with us for a day of old-style Barbecue and "soul" food, entertainment, information and empowerment. Vendors, exhibitors and performers welcome. Contact Frank Lytle, NAACP Juneteenth Chair, at fdlytle@aol.com or 719.200.6308 David Cobb Speaks on
Creating Democracy & Challenging Corporate Rule This event is part history lesson and part heartfelt call to action! Cobb is an organizer and national spokesman for MoveToAmend.org, a coalition of more than 107,000 people and organizations whose goal is to amend the United States Constitution to end corporate rule and legalize democracy. Free and open to the public. Download a poster for the tour here. Just War Discussion/Adult Class at High Plains Church May 19 & 26 7-9PM 1825 Dominion Way
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