Kirk backs women by backing ERA

The Equal Rights Amendment is an idea whose time came long ago, but it was always just short of full acceptance.

I am proud of Congressman Mark Kirk for joining with 204 of his House colleagues in sponsoring the Equal Rights Amendment and keeping the issue alive.

The ERA would codify, in the supreme law of the land, that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States of any state on account of sex."

It would be the culmination of the women's rights movement and a powerful statement that gender is no barrier in the United States.

Proponents of the ERA have tried for over 30 years to see it passed. Tragically, it fell three states short of ratification in the 1970s. So it has fallen to leaders like Kirk to keep the amendment alive.

He deserves our respect and praise for his steadfast commitment to equal rights.

Janet Cohen

Northbrook