Title
Supporting an Equal Rights Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution.
Body
Whereas, the City of Saint Paul supports equal rights for the citizens of Saint Paul; and women constitute over 50 percent of the citizenry of the city; and
Whereas, women play a critical role in families, the workplace, and in society as a whole, contributing to our economy and advancing our nation; and
Whereas, women continue to confront a lack of political parity, workplace discrimination, health care inequities, disparate rates of poverty, sexual assault and domestic violence; and
Whereas, the Minnesota Constitution does not explicitly guarantee that all rights that it protects are held equally by all citizens without regard to gender; and
Whereas, the Equal Rights Amendment is required in order to provide gender-based equality in our courts and laws because the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the 14th Amendment does not apply specifically to issues of gender; and
Whereas, although laws prohibiting gender discrimination exist, they can be repealed or reduced by a simple majority in the legislature; and
Whereas, an Equal Rights Amendment would help correct systemic gender discrimination; and
Whereas, Minnesota requested that Congress propose an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in April of 1949 and then ratified the federal ERA in February of 1973 - yet still does not have sex or gender equality guaranteed in its own state constitution; and
Whereas, three bills have been introduced in each the House and Senate stating that “equality under the law must not be abridged or denied on account of gender”.
Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the City of Saint Paul calls on the Minnesota Senate and House to pass a bill for an act proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, known as the Equal Rights Amendment, providing for gender equality under the law.