Illinois still needs to ratify ERA

After reading the April 21 letter to the editor entitled "ERA actually is bad for women," I dug into my personal archives, the stuff I should toss before my kids have to do it after my demise. On March 21, 1974, the Daily Herald published an article entitled Women Activists Working Hard For ERA. It featured several community ERA proponents. Their efforts included lobbing Springfield legislators, holding public educational meetings, rallying, and debating with opponents, particularly Phyllis Schlafly.

And here we are 44 years later, still debunking myths about what passage of the ERA would do to society, i.e., draft women in to military service, which questions women's combat fitness. Let's ask Sen. Duckworth about that. A further concern that abortion services will not allow for common-sense guidelines propagates the nonsensical belief that pregnant women are walking into health care centers demanding a termination at the ninth month just because they're tired of being pregnant. The real concern for pro-choice advocates is that restrictions are constantly being proposed with the goal that abortion will be outlawed in this country.

The issue of unisex bathrooms is ever present. However, if women standing in long lines outside the public bathrooms notice there is no line at men's bathrooms, women happily break the gender designation and use the facility. Union Station at both Women's Marches featured that sharing. No one was accosted, so men were safe.

Yes, Illinois has an equal rights clause in its Constitution. But to protect the rights of citizens in all states, Illinois needs to ratify the ERA: "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 not that scary.

Julie Sass

Elk Grove Village