Changes

The Congressional resolution that proposed the amendment set a ratification deadline of March 22, 1979. Through 1977, the amendment received 35 of the necessary 38 state ratifications. Five states later rescinded their ratifications before the 1979 deadline: Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Dakota<ref>Technically, South Dakota's passing resolution included a rescission clause stating that if the amendment did not pass by the original deadline, its consent would be withdrawn.</ref>, and Tennessee.<ref>https://www.thoughtco.com/which-states-ratified-the-era-3528872</ref> In 1978, a joint resolution of Congress extended the ratification deadline to June 30, 1982, by simple majorities only (not by the 2/3 of each chamber required to pass amendments); however, no additional states ratified the amendment before the passing of the second deadline.

The Congressional resolution that proposed the amendment set a ratification deadline of March 22, 1979. Through 1977, the amendment received 35 of the necessary 38 state ratifications. Five states later rescinded their ratifications before the 1979 deadline: Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Dakota<ref>Technically, South Dakota's passing resolution included a rescission clause stating that if the amendment did not pass by the original deadline, its consent would be withdrawn.</ref>, and Tennessee.<ref>https://www.thoughtco.com/which-states-ratified-the-era-3528872</ref> In 1978, a joint resolution of Congress extended the ratification deadline to June 30, 1982, by simple majorities only (not by the 2/3 of each chamber required to pass amendments); however, no additional states ratified the amendment before the passing of the second deadline.

Some ERA advocates have absurdly argued that the deadline is "non-binding" and have lobbied state legislatures to either ratify for the first time or reverse their rescissions decades after 1982.  Defying logic, "Nevada Ratifies The Equal Rights Amendment ... 35 Years After The Deadline," as NPR described it.<ref>https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/21/520962541/nevada-on-cusp-of-ratifying-equal-rights-amendment-35-years-after-deadline</ref>  Then, nearly 36 years after the deadline expired, the [[Democrat]]-controlled legislature in Illinois passed ERA, and within 24 hours its primary sponsor Lou Lang resigned his leadership position amid scandalous accusations by a woman that he had committed "terrible acts against her."  The woman said of Rep. Lang, "I was harassed. I was intimidated. I was humiliated."<ref>https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/state-rep-lou-lang-accused-of-harassing-springfield-activist/</ref>  No state has chosen to undo its original rescission.

Some ERA advocates have absurdly argued that the deadline is "non-binding" and have lobbied state legislatures to either ratify for the first time or reverse their rescissions decades after 1982.  Defying logic, "Nevada Ratifies The Equal Rights Amendment ... 35 Years After The Deadline," as NPR described it.<ref>https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/21/520962541/nevada-on-cusp-of-ratifying-equal-rights-amendment-35-years-after-deadline</ref>  Then, nearly 36 years after the deadline expired, the [[Democrat]]-controlled legislature in Illinois passed ERA, and within 24 hours its primary sponsor Lou Lang resigned his leadership position amid scandalous accusations by a woman that he had committed "terrible acts against her."  The woman said of Rep. Lang, "I was harassed. I was intimidated. I was humiliated."<ref>https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/state-rep-lou-lang-accused-of-harassing-springfield-activist/</ref> In January 2020 Virginia voted to pass the amendment, making it the 38th state to do so, which (had there been no timeline, and if later rescissions are ignored) would have made the Amendment effective. No state that voted to rescind its original approval has chosen to undo its original rescission, and no other state has chosen to rescind its original approval.

In 2018, the Jewish Press interviewed Andrew Schlafly regarding his mother's motivations for countering the ERA and regarding her activism in general. Andrew (and Phyllis) argued that the Amendment would have been directly harmful, rather than helpful, to women.<ref>https://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/interviews-and-profiles/this-remarkable-woman-stood-up-to-feminism-and-won-an-interview-with-andrew-schlafly-son-of-conservative-icon-phyllis-schlafly/2018/09/14/</ref>

In 2018, the Jewish Press interviewed Andrew Schlafly regarding his mother's motivations for countering the ERA and regarding her activism in general. Andrew (and Phyllis) argued that the Amendment would have been directly harmful, rather than helpful, to women.<ref>https://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/interviews-and-profiles/this-remarkable-woman-stood-up-to-feminism-and-won-an-interview-with-andrew-schlafly-son-of-conservative-icon-phyllis-schlafly/2018/09/14/</ref>