(WFRV) – Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced a proposed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the state constitution, aiming to guarantee equal rights and protection for all residents.
From a press release, State Senator LaTonya Johnson and Rep. Brienna Brown, along with several co-sponsors, announced the proposal. The amendment would protect individuals from discrimination based on sex, gender identity, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, age, ancestry, or any other immutable characteristic.
“Every person in Wisconsin deserves equal rights and equal protections,” said Sen. Johnson. “This amendment gives us the chance to enshrine this simple truth in our state constitution, and it’s past time we take it.”
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Rep. Brown added, “I am proud to introduce this Equal Rights Amendment for the state of Wisconsin. Once again, the United States is experiencing a reckoning with our founding principles, and this amendment shows the way forward.”
While Wisconsin ratified the federal Equal Rights Amendment in 1972, the state has yet to adopt a similar provision in its own constitution. This means that, although federal protections exist, Wisconsin’s governing document does not explicitly guarantee equal rights at the state level. The new proposal seeks to close that gap and ensure that all Wisconsinites are afforded explicit protections under state law.
The introduction of the ERA comes amid a renewed national focus on equality and civil rights, with lawmakers emphasizing that the amendment is a critical step forward ensuring fairness and justice for all residents of Wisconsin.
