GenERAtion Ratify CA x Free The Period
Two causes, one shared passion for equity advocacy
At its core, Free the Period California’s mission—to fight for menstrual equity and accessible menstrual health services for everyone — is a campaign for equal rights. That’s why FTPCA stands in unconditional support for and solidarity with GenERAtion Ratify, a youth-led national organization committed to ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
Our organizations came together and FTPCA’s Editor-in-Chief Rachael Deng had the pleasure of having a conversation over Zoom with Camille Lowery, the State Lead for GenERAtion Ratify California.
RACHAEL: It’s so nice to meet you, Camille! Tell us about yourself.
CAMILLE: Hi, my name is Camille Lowery. I am a high school junior and the State Lead for GenERAtion Ratify California. As an African American woman in modern America, I am acutely aware of the interconnected issues of racism, discrimination and gender inequality in her community. I am passionate about working on a safer, more inclusive America for my generation and future generations.
Q: Let’s hear more about GenERAtion Ratify! How does your organization take action, at the national and state levels?
A: GenERAtion Ratify was founded to mobilize youth across the U.S. to push for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Our mission is to correct the historical exclusion of women and people beyond the binary from our Constitution, which the ERA seeks to achieve. To realize our goal to advance gender equality, we work to accomplish the following at both the state and national level:
- Educate the youth of America about the Equal Rights Amendment and gender inequality today,
- Advocate for the ERA and gender equality legislation through legislative and judicial action
- Elect pro-ERA candidates through empowering the youth vote and fighting for pro-ERA, gender equality sense candidates by making the ERA an election issue, and
- Empower young female-identifying, non-binary, gender nonconforming, and femme folx.
As a national organization, we engage in activities such as phone banking, text banking, and lobbying days to educate, advocate, and elevate discourse about elections. We are also a social community of passionate individuals who bond through shared activism and fun events. Even with COVID-19, we come together through digital events like Feminist Jeopardy, Kahoot competitions, and watch parties.
Q: How did the ERA come to be?
A: The ERA was introduced by Alice Stokes Paul in 1923 as the “Lucretia Mott Amendment, which was then renamed to the Equal Rights Amendment in 1943. Paul, who had been a key figure in the enactment of the 19th Amendment, believed that the women’s suffrage movement still did not achieve absolute equality. Thus, she drafted the ERA to demand, “Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction.”
From its creation in 1923, the ERA was introduced in every session of Congress. In the 1940s, both the Democrat and Republican parties added the ERA to their party platforms. Finally, in 1972, the ERA passed both houses of Congress and went to the states for ratification. However, Congress imposed a seven-year deadline by which 38 out of 50 states needed to complete the the ratification process.
In its first year, the ERA obtained 22 of the necessary 38 state ratifications. Unfortunately, opposition groups began to organize and counter with strong force. As a result, ratification slowed and, despite an extension of the deadline to mid-1982, the ERA fell short by three state ratifications.
Q: Wow, what a history! Why is it so important for everyone to promote?
A: In its current wording, the ERA states, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” It’s important for everyone to promote the ERA because it would give guaranteed equal legal rights to all American citizens without discrimination based on their sex. The current legislation in this country has not done enough to further equality and equity for all, and we need to make change at the political level if we want to support future generations. We need this for basic human rights!
Furthermore, today we have enough state ratifications to pass the ERA. Back in January, Virginia ratified the ERA, becoming the 38th state to do so. Considering how tight the seven-year deadline was for an amendment, as well as the fact that most amendments do not even receive deadlines in the first place, it shouldn’t be a barrier to achieve equal rights for all.
“There is nothing complicated about ordinary equality.”
— Alice Paul
Q: How can people support GenERAtion Ratify CA’s efforts?
A: Our California team created this Change.org petition and we’re almost at the number of signatures we need! It would be amazing if everyone could sign it.
As well, here are some action items that will help us grow our movement:
- Get involved with any of National’s digital events so you can spread the knowledge to your community
- Follow our chapter Instagram (@generationratify.ca) and DM us to join our email list
- Consider starting a local GenERAtion Ratify chapter: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2z-WYMhDc157Lo5i4VzcEA9O9ol9xJMrfKcEqxb5sZ5mi6w/viewform
RACHAEL: Thank you so much for your time, Camille!
We're so excited to start planning a joint event between FTPCA and GenERAtion Ratify. Everyone, stay tuned!
If you liked this article, please like our Facebook page, check out our LinkedIn, and follow us at @freetheperiodca on Instagram! To learn more about our coalition, visit us at freetheperiodca.org.
Give Camille and the California team a follow at @generationratify.ca on Instagram! To learn more about GenERAtion Ratify and the ERA, visit their website as well as the Equal Rights Amendment website.
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