Copies of Equal: An Activity Book were hand-delivered to each member of the Illinois General Assembly on Equal Pay Day ( April 10 ). In a letter, Sallie Miller, Illinois President of the American Association of University Women ( AAUW ), urged legislators to vote YES on SJRCA4, a resolution to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and add women to the US Constitution.
Miller wrote, "Illinois women already enjoy this standard under the Illinois Constitution. AAUW Illinois urges Illinois legislators to vote "YES" to SJRCA4 to extend this standard to federal law and to women across the country who are not so fortunate as to live in Illinois."
The substantive clause of the proposed amendment reads, "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."
These 24 words will elevate sex classification to a "strict scrutiny" standard of review now used for race, ethnicity and national origin. Nevada ratified the ERA in March 2017. Only two more states are needed now.
Free copies of the 16-page coloring book are being distributed throughout Illinois by AAUW members and supporters. This was a member initiative, funded by donors.
The book's entire production team were women, including the illustrator, authors and editor. Even the printer is a woman-owned business, NorthShore Printers in Waukegan, Illinois.
AAUW was founded in 1881, and advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. Illinois has 39 branches and over 3,000 members. Learn more at aauw-il.aauw.net .