Rep. Lori Palmeri (D-Oshkosh) is leading the charge to institute the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Wisconsin Constitution, Feb. 5, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A Northeast Wisconsin lawmaker is leading a renewed effort to institute the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Wisconsin Constitution.
During an event Monday in Appleton, Rep. Lori Palmeri (D-Oshkosh) announced the introduction of the new bill to the state legislature. Rep. Lee Snodgrass (D-Appleton) and several other local leaders and activists also spoke during the news conference.
Wisconsin was one of the first states to ratify the federal ERA in 1972, but has never passed an ERA amendment to the state Constitution.
“It is about damn time. No, it is past time for this to happen in Wisconsin. It is unacceptable, in 2024, after 50 years, to not have this as part of our Wisconsin constitutional rights,” Palmeri said.
An ERA amendment was also brought forward in the Wisconsin Legislature in 2021, but it did not pass.
Palmeri explained the amendment would provide protection “against discrimination on the basis of sex, race, marital status, gender identity, religion, family status, and a host of other elements.”
“This is not a partisan issue,” said Jeanne Roberts with the League of Women Voters. “It would say that Wisconsin values women. It would say that Wisconsin values all people, because this isn’t just about women. It’s about LGBTQ people, it’s about people of color. It’s equal rights for everybody.”
With this bill, Wisconsin follows in the footsteps of an increasing number of states that have recently introduced ERA bills, including Minnesota, Maine, Oregon, West Virginia and New York. Nevada and Delaware recently finalized state ERA amendments, joining 21 other states who have such protections.
Monday’s event was hosted by Mid-Day Women’s Alliance in conjunction with the Women’s Action Coalition, a partnership of five local women’s organizations: League of Women Voters of Appleton/Fox Cities, the Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region, American Association of University Women—Appleton branch, and Delta Sigma Theta.
Because the bill was just released, there has not been an official response issued by Wisconsin Republicans.
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