Changes

The purpose and effect of the Amendment would be to prohibit many legal distinctions between men and women, and boys and girls.  An all-male draft or male-only combat regimens would presumably become illegal.  But, neither equal representation of boys and girls on sports teams, nor the termination of all-boys or all-girls sports teams, would be required, since the law treats some gender distinctions as a ''bona fida operating qualification'' for which discrimination is allowed.

The purpose and effect of the Amendment would be to prohibit many legal distinctions between men and women, and boys and girls.  An all-male draft or male-only combat regimens would presumably become illegal.  But, neither equal representation of boys and girls on sports teams, nor the termination of all-boys or all-girls sports teams, would be required, since the law treats some gender distinctions as a ''bona fida operating qualification'' for which discrimination is allowed.

35 out of 38 states passed this amendment, but opposition led by Phyllis Schlafly then defeated it.  Congress then extended the deadline to 1982 in legislation that a court later invalidated, but no more states passed the amendment in the additional three years anyway.  Several states rescinded their prior passage of the amendment.

35 out of 38 states passed this amendment, but opposition led by Phyllis Schlafly then defeated it.<ref>Testimony in 2007 by Phyllis Schlafly against the Equal Rights Amendment is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7iEL54jY9Q here].</ref> Congress then extended the deadline to 1982 in legislation that a court later invalidated, but no more states passed the amendment in the additional three years anyway.  Several states rescinded their prior passage of the amendment.