ERAmerica was a coalition of organizations fighting for the ratification of the

Equal Rights Amendment The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Proponents assert it would end legal distinctions between men and ...

in the 1970s. The organization was bipartisan as Democrat Liz Carpenter and Republican

Elly Peterson Elly M. Peterson (June 5, 1914 – June 9, 2008), was an American politician from Charlotte, Eaton County, Michigan. Peterson was an overseas Red Cross volunteer in World War II. She was an officer in the American Cancer Society, an active member ...

led the organization as co-chairs.

Origins

ERAmerica was founded as a coalition of groups in 1976 and consisted of over 200 organizations. The headquarters were based in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the organization as to seek ratification of the

(ERA). The group was ultimately unsuccessful after the ERA failed in 1982.

Leadership

ERAmerica was a bipartisan organization. Liz Carpenter was a Democrat and

was a long time member of the Republican Party. Both women were founders of the National Women's Political Caucus.In 1976, Jane Wells served as campaign director of ERAmerica. In the early 1980s,

Mary Hatwood Futrell Mary Hatwood Futrell (born May 24, 1940) is an American educator, professor, and pioneer in women's rights education. In her unprecedented six-year-term as president of the National Education Association, she worked to advocate for students in po ...

served as president. In 1982, Kathleen Currie served as director of public relations.

Member organizations

Groups affiliated with ERAmerica included

Catholics Act for ERA The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a p ...

, Housewives for ERA,

Common Cause Common Cause is a watchdog group based in Washington, D.C., with chapters in 35 states. It was founded in 1970 by John W. Gardner, a Republican, who was the former Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in the administration of President L ...

, Girl Scouts, and the

NAACP The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is a civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E.&nb ...

ERAmerica Report

In the early 1980s, ERAmerica published a newsletter known as the ERAmerica Report. In the May 1981 edition, they noted the ERA and abortion were separate issues.

Fundraising for the cause

1977

In 1977, ERAmerica raised $100,000 at the International Women's Year Conference in Houston.

1981

In 1981, ERAmerica held a luncheon in Michigan where First Lady

Helen Milliken Helen Wallbank Milliken (December 4, 1922 – November 16, 2012) was an American women's rights activist, environmentalist, and former First Lady of Michigan. Milliken, the longest-lived First Lady in Michigan's history (living to 99 years old), ...

spoke. Karen Street from Birmingham attended this event and told the press, "This is one of the best things I've ever done. I'm so appreciative of the women who worked for the vote I have today. Some day, I hope women will appreciate what we are doing for the ERA. I have the time to devote to this. Many other women who need it most don't have the time I do."

Donations to candidates

In 1982, ERAmerica donated $38,650 to legislative candidates.

References

Women's rights Women's organizations based in the United States Feminist organizations in the United States Equal Rights Amendment organizations