Prop 1 - NY Equal Rights Amendment

---

The NY Constitution currently protects us from discrimination based on race, color, creed or religion. In addition to protecting against racial or religious discrimination, Prop 1/ the NY Equal Rights Amendment (NY ERA) will amend the NY Constitution to add protections from discrimination (i.e., unequal treatment) based on 

• ethnicity, national origin 

• age 

• disability 

• sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression (LGBTQ+)

• pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, reproductive healthcare and autonomy , including abortion

and from those who might discriminate including  

• any other person 

• any firm, corporation or institution 

• the state or any agency or subdivision of the state.

Passing Prop 1/ the NY ERA in 2024 is critical. Although existing laws offer some coverage, the next legislature could easily change them. Protections embodied in the NY Constitution are much harder to undo, (and enjoy higher judicial scrutiny than regular legislation). To pass a constitutional amendment, the amendment must be approved by two successive legislatures, followed by a ballot referendum carried by popular vote.  

Throughout the 2024 election season, Women Dems are focused on educating voters about the NY ERA, and what its opponents argue against it. We are engaging our families, friends and colleagues in this effort. Passing Prop 1 in 2024 is much more important than allowing individual issues – much less baseless fear tactics – to derail it. We urge everyone to spread the word and remind all voters to flip the ballot and vote YES to pass Prop 1 on November 5th.  

To do that, we are making sure that voters understand that although Prop 1 secures our rights to abortion, contraception and IVF, and protects the LGBTQ+, elderly and immigrant communities, these words do not appear on the ballot. The ballot will reference the following language:

 Amendment to Protect Against Unequal Treatment 

This proposal would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy. 

A “YES” vote puts these protections in the New York State Constitution. 

A “NO” vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution. 

The full text of Proposal 1 is available at

https://elections.ny.gov/2024-statewide-ballot-proposal (if link does not launch, please copy and paste URL into your browser).

• Reproductive freedom continues to be under siege following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision, Dobbs, State Health Officer of the Mississippi Department of Health, et al. v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization et al., published on June 24, 2022. 
• Not only our right to choose is at stake. Radical right Supreme Court justices and their Republican supporters clearly view our right to privacy and other freedoms flowing from Roe v. Wade and related judicial precedent as next on the chopping block. 
• Women and our Democratic colleagues everywhere are mobilizing to elect Democrats who will preserve our right to choose. 
• Women Dems will do whatever it takes to ensure that women's equality -- our birthright -- not only is preserved but continues to grow.
• Republicans' proposed Senate and House bills seeking to ban abortion nationwide after 15 weeks only further motivates us to defeat their blatant disregard of the preferences of 80% of the nation's public.