Utah has a long history of lifting up and honoring women. Nearly 150 years ago, Utah’s Seraph Young was the first woman to legally cast a vote in the United States. Utah’s Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon was the first woman in the country to be elected a state senator. And, 100 years ago, Utah was one of the early states to ratify the 19th Amendment, which gives women the federal right to vote.
Yet, our state is viewed as being the worst in the country for women’s equality. With the 2020 session, our Legislature can change that. We have the opportunity to become the 38th and final state necessary to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, or ERA. Ask our legislators to stand together and show that we care about women and families. We care that they get equal pay for equal work — allowing women more time with their families.
When I think of the ERA, I think of the golden rule, the basic religious tenet of treating others as you want to be treated. Equality and faith go hand in hand. Why would our legislators accept that men be protected under the Constitution but not women? Our representatives should follow the golden rule and work to achieve equal protections for all.
Charlotte Maloney
Millcreek