ERA Minnesota (ERA MN) is asking people throughout Minnesota to create short videos to help spread the word on social media why they support the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
 
Whenever ERA MN talks to people around Minnesota, whether it’s up on the Range, down in southern Minnesota, or in the Twin Cities they tell us how much they want to live in a state that embraces gender equality.
 
ERA MN has been advocating for legislation at the State Capital that would put the amendment on the ballot in 2020, providing Minnesotans with a chance to vote on whether or not they want a state that embraces equality. 
 
The amendment would add “Equality under the law shall not be abridged or denied on account of gender” to Minnesota’s Constitution.
 
The video project is a way for everyday Minnesotans to tell each other why the amendment matters to them and that equality should be a core value for all Minnesotans.
 
Making an Impact for Equality
ERA MN is asking people to create short 30 to 60 second videos featuring themselves or people they know talking about why the ERA matters to them. 
 
People should post their videos on their favorite social media channels using the hashtags #ERAmn & #14WordsForEquality. ERA MN will share the best user videos across the organization's social media and website (www.ERAmn.org).
 
A few ideas ERA MN is trying to emphasize are: 

1. The Equal Rights Amendment is about creating opportunities for everyone regardless of their gender.
2. The next step to a better Minnesota starts with these 14 words “Equality under the law shall not be abridged or denied on account of gender.” 
3. A few things the Minnesota ERA is intended to do are:

• Provide certainty and stability to Minnesota’s legal system by setting a clear legal standard that everyone, regardless of their gender, is protected equally by Minnesota’s Constitution. 
• Help address serious issues in Minnesota like gender violence, workplace discrimination, and the wage gap.
• Create a more open society where people have the opportunity to choose their path regardless of their gender.

 
If you’re not sure what to say in a longer video, or just like being on camera, get a group of friends together and record a short video using one of the blurbs below:

• All it takes for a Better Minnesota are these 14 words. Equality under the law shall not be abridged or denied on account of gender.
  
  
• Now is the time to let Minnesotans Vote on the ERA. Equality under the law shall not be abridged or denied on account of gender.

 
Tips for Great Videos
Here are a few tips for making a great video:

1. Speak from the heart about why the ERA matters to you and don’t be afraid to be energetic!
2. Write out what you want to say and read it out loud a few times before you record it.
3. Look at the camera while you’re speaking.
4. You can read more about the amendment at www.ERAmn.org.

 
Here are a few filming tips:

1. Have a friend record the video for you and if you can use a tripod or something else to stabilize the camera. 
2. Shoot the video in a well-lit place but not somewhere with too much direct sunlight or too much background noise.

 
In addition to asking people to create their own videos, ERA Minnesota is producing some longer videos featuring Minnesotan’s from all walks of life talking about why the ERA matters to them.  Like the one of Trista M  - below.  Those videos can be seen on the organization’s YouTube channel.  Select videos will also be on our ERA YES Video page.
 
Questions about the project should be directed to Heather Allison.
Blog post by Mark Hinds

ERA video of Trista MatasCastilla on why the ERA is important to her.

Next Friday, March 8th, ERA Minnesota announces our celebration of International Women’s Day #IWD2019 by hosting the 3rd Annual ERA Rally at the Minnesota Capitol Rotunda. The event will feature Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan along with top legislative leaders and ERA supporters, to spotlight the urgent need for an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in our state and federal constitutions.

Legislative leaders and thousands of activists from across the state are pushing to pass two initiatives currently in the Minnesota House & Senate: HF13 (Kunesh-Podein)/SF200 (Cohen) - a Minnesota ERA to the state constitution providing for gender equality under the law and proposing a constitutional amendment that will be added to the ballot in the 2020 general election for voters to decide; and HF71 (Moran)/SF208 (Pappas) - a resolution memorializing Congress to remove the words “June 30th 1982” that comprised the deadline imposed on the ERA federal legislation so the ERA it can be added to the U.S. Constitution when ratified by the last state.

The Minnesota House is poised to pass both bills in the coming week. All attention and energies will then pivot to the Minnesota Senate to give the bills full and fair hearings to pass the ERA.

WHAT:  ERA Lobby Day & Rally at the Capitol
WHEN:  Friday, March 8th, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, Rally at 10:00 AM
               (Lobby your senator before and after the Rally)
WHERE:  Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda
HOSTED BY: ERA Minnesota

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS: 

• Governor Tim Walz
• Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan
• Sen. Dick Cohen
• Sen. Sandy Pappas
• Sen. Scott Dibble
• Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein
• Rep. Rena Moran
• Rep. Kaohly Her
• Rep. Hunter Cantrell

ERA Bill Numbers: HF13/SF200; and HF71/SF208.