VAratifyERA and the newly formed Virginia chapter of the National Women’s Political Caucus will host the summit on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, from 9:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m., at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens (1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23228). Tickets are available for purchase here.
Agenda:
9:30 – 10:00 – check-in
10:00 – 10:15 – opening statements
10:15 – 12:15 – legislative overviews (15 minutes * 8 bills)
12:15 – 12:30 – closing statements + thank yous
The goal of the summit is to bring together a variety of organizations to work together as advocates on a full slate of women’s equality issues. The Equal Rights Amendment will be ratified in 2020 but women in Virginia will still need equality legislation passed at the state level.
During the summit, chief patrons will be provide a fifteen-minute overview for eight pieces of selected legislation related to women and equality. If the legislators are unavailable, the organization(s) submitting the legislation will be invited to present the topic.
The discussion of each bill or resolution will include a brief overview, key talking points, and requested action(s) from summit participants to build public support for and awareness of the issue or legislation.
Bills are currently being submitted for inclusion and we anticipate bills in some/all of the following areas: campus life, domestic/sexual violence, women’s health (pregnancy, breastfeeding, and maternal mortality), pay equity, and women in jails/prisons. Additionally, we anticipate inclusion of a bill for LGBTQ+ equality and another to promote racial equity on the voter redistricting commission.
Participation
We have received suggested legislation from the following groups:
American Association of University Women of Virginia
American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia
Equality Virginia
Feminist Majority
National Organization for Women-VA
Poor People’s Campaign of Virginia
Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance
Virginia Social Action Task Force of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Final decisions on the legislation to be presented will be made by the team (mostly lawyers) planning the event.
