(New York, NY, Wednesday, July 6, 2022) – The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (“WBASNY”) commends the Legislature on the passage of the New York State Equal Rights Amendment (“ERA”), A.41002/S.51002, sponsored by Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. It has been a longstanding legislative priority of WBASNY and WBASNY has unwaveringly supported adding further protections for sex, sexual orientation, and reproductive rights to the New York State Constitution. Sex and gender bias have long been pervasive in our social structure, and given recent events, biases against sexual orientation and reproductive rights have also become much more commonplace across the country. While constitutional guarantees are needed at both the State and Federal levels to prevent further discrimination, WBASNY is relieved to see New York State taking up the fight to protect its citizens. WBASNY’s mission includes the fair and equal administration of justice. By ensuring the passage of the ERA, the Legislature helps not only bring an important WBASNY legislative priority to reality but also ensures that every New Yorker will have their rights protected.

WBASNY gives special thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul for recognizing the need for an extraordinary session without delay, to Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright and Senator Liz Krueger for their tireless work on protecting these important rights, and to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for ensuring that this legislation was brought to the floor.

###

The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) is the professional membership organization of choice nearly 4,000 attorneys throughout New York State, and the largest statewide women’s bar association in the country. For four decades, WBASNY has been a singularly important resource for women lawyers, providing professional networking, continuing legal education programming, leadership training, and advocacy for the rights of women, children, and families. Through involvement with WBASNY’s 20 regional chapters and its 40-plus substantive law committees, WBASNY’s members collaborate with one another on a variety of issues and perform public and community service, in furtherance of its mission to promote the advancement of the status of women in society and women in the legal profession; to promote the fair and equal administration of justice; and to act as a unified voice for its members with respect to issues of statewide, national and international significance to women generally and women attorneys in particular. WBASNY holds United Nations NGO status with the U.N.’s Department of Public Information, and Special Consultative status in association with the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). WBASNY is also a founding member of the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations.