GLMA Hails Biden-Harris Administration's Historic ERA Acknowledgment; Calls for National Archivist of the United States to Certify

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2025

Contact: Eli Duffy
Director of Communications & Strategic Partnerships
eduffy@glma.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.— On January 17th, the Biden-Harris Administration declared the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to be "the law of the land." First proposed in the 1970s, the ERA was created to ensure equal legal rights for all, regardless of sex. It garnered the required number of state ratifications to be added to the Constitution in 2020. GLMA commends the administration for taking this important, and long-anticipated step, and calls for the National Archivist of the United States to do her job; and codify the Equal Rights Amendment into practice.

The ratification of the ERA has earned overwhelming support from the nation’s leading Constitutional scholars, including Russ Feingold, Kathleen Sullivan, Larry Tribe, and Victoria Nourse. This was not a spontaneous decision, but a long-overdue response to decades of calls from hundreds of pro-equality organizations, representing millions of voices, urging the administration to recognize the ERA as the law of the land.

"The Biden-Harris Administration is reaffirming a fundamental and long-overdue truth: everyone, regardless of sex, deserves equal rights under the law," said Alex Sheldon, MA, GLMA Executive Director. "The ratification of the ERA represents a historic milestone in the fight for gender equality—one that is critical not only for women, but for all LGBTQ+ people as we fight against sex-based discrimination based on gender, gender expression, and sexual orientation."

"The Equal Rights Amendment is a critical step toward ensuring fairness and equality for all, including LGBTQ+ health professionals," said Joel Trambley, MD, PhD, and GLMA Secretary. "By explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on sex, the ERA will empower LGBTQ+ providers to thrive in their workplaces, free from bias and inequity. This progress not only uplifts our community of professionals but also strengthens the healthcare system's ability to deliver affirming and equitable care for everyone."

GLMA remains committed to its mission of advancing health equity for all, regardless of gender identity. To learn more about today’s announcement and the organizations who led the movement leading up to this moment, read the statement from the ERA Coalition.

About GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality
GLMA is a national organization committed to ensuring health equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities and equality for LGBTQ+ health professionals in their work and learning environments.  To achieve this mission, GLMA utilizes the scientific expertise of its diverse multidisciplinary membership to inform and drive advocacy, education, and research. glma.org