To: New York State Board of Elections
RE: Proposition 1
Independent Women’s Law Center wishes to submit the following comment regarding the “Equal Rights Amendment” in New York and the Board of Elections’ proposed language describing that amendment:
It is imperative that the language adopted by the Board of Elections reflect the actual meaning of the proposed constitutional amendment. It must clearly state the precise language of the amendment so that the voters are fully aware and informed before casting their votes. The language as it currently stands accomplishes this task of communicating what the amendment does. It is unbiased, does not seek to elicit a vote one way or the other, and is identical to the language in the proposed amendment. As such, the Board of Elections’ proposed language to appear on the ballot as Proposition 1 must remain unchanged. It would be unlawful and undemocratic for the Board to change the language to include wording that does not appear in the amendment itself, and New York voters deserve to have this issue presented to them in a fair manner.
The ERA as originally drafted is harmful enough by enshrining the ever evolving concept of gender ideology into the NY Constitution. By granting protections for undefined “gender identity” and “gender expression,” any person has the right to “self-identify” into women-only spaces, including domestic abuse shelters, sports, locker rooms, and prisons. This amendment deprives women of their privacy and safety, and strips parental rights from New York families. Laws on the books protecting women and girls will be erased as the state shifts its focus on prioritizing the feelings of men over the safety of women. The anti-woman amendment is disastrous for women. Independent Women’s Law Center believes if women and New York voters are told the truth, by clearly and transparently maintaining the identical language of the amendment, they will ultimately reject Proposition 1 in November.