Organization uses postcards to urge lawmakers to ratify equal rights amendment

On Thursday, the American Association of University Women and Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, hosted the Equal Rights Amendment Holiday Postcard Party.

Dozens of women from the community gathered at Pale Fire Brewing Company to send postcards to lawmakers urging them to ratify the amendment for constitutional equality.

The

equal rights amendment

is designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex, and end legal distinctions between men and women in terms of divorce, property, employment, and other matters.

For an amendment to be added to the Constitution, a minimum of 38 states have to sign off. In May, Illinois became the 37th state to ratify the amendment. Now, advocates hope Virginia will become state number 38.

Earlier this month,

a poll found that 81 percent of voters

said they would support state lawmakers ratifying the amendment in the upcoming General Assembly session. The poll also found that 12 percent opposed the idea.

Virginia's next General Assembly session begins Jan. 9.