Illinois Passes Equal Rights Amendment

On Thursday Reuters reported that Illinois joined 36 U.S. states on Wednesday when it ratified an U.S. constitution Equal Rights Amendment. The ERA is intended to ensure women are treated the same as men under state and federal laws. Illinois’ passage of the amendment comes at a time when support for women’s rights is gaining momentum. The U.S. constitution does not currently guarantee equal rights for women, but many federal and state laws prohibit discrimination based on gender.