About ERA Minnesota

ERA Minnesota's mission is two fold: 
  1. First and foremost -- to get an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) placed on the Minnesota Ballot -- so that the people can vote Yes or No to add and ERA to our state constitution. [more info]
  2. Second - reintroduction of the Equal Rights Amendment in Congress for ERA ratification for the US Constitution.  Currently we have 37 of the required 38 states to ratify. [more info]

​To that end a group of dedicated women and men decided it was time to get started!   But a few women and men can't do this alone. A coalition has been formed --an alliance of like minded people and groups working together towards this common goal. (see our Allies)

We are inviting every Minnesotan, every Minnesota organization, business, nonprofit, labor union, and faith group to join us in support of an ERA in Minnesota and an ERA in our country.  ​
ERA Minnesota Campaign
ERA Minnesota  is mounting a public relations campaign, including public awareness and candidate support, to get an equal rights amendment on the ballot.

Our legislative strategy with House and Senate leadership aims to ensure passage out of both bodies during the next legislative session.

A Constitutional amendment does not have to be approved by the Governor, so if a simple majority in both the House and Senate approves, the amendment can be placed on the ballot statewide in the following elections ( 2020). [learn more]

Part two of the campaign is education. We will need to educate voters statewide about the fact that we do not have an equal rights amendment in our constitution in regards to gender, and that it is necessary.

Assumed equity is not enough.

History of ERA MN

In 2009, with a pro ERA majority in the House and Senate, the time was right to push for an equal rights amendment to be placed on the ballot in 2012 and added to the Minnesota Constitution.  At that time public and influential individuals were saying that "ERA" was having bad connotations and that perhaps a new name would help.  So  the Minnesota Constitutional Amendment for Equality Coalition or MN CAFE Coalition was founded by Kathleen Murphy (our current ERA MN Vice President).  

​In 2010 an ERA bill was heard before the Senate Judiciary committee.  (see testimony video clips HERE).  The House however, would not put it forward in committee.  The thought, at the time, was that having an Equal Rights Amendment on the ballot would influence who came out to vote. 

The next election changed the make up of the legislature and our chance to get an ERA through was  gone.  The MN CAFE lay dormant until the political climate changed again and it was resurrected in 2014 as ERA MN by Betty Folliard and the drive to get the deadline to ratify the ERA federally was added to the effort.  The MN CAFE website was brought back but with a new name, a new logo and a new design.
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MN CAFE website page from 2010