February 1st marked the beginning of Black History month and we at Equal Means Equal would like to take time to honor the achievements of the African American women who carried the E.R.A. bills in Nevada and Virginia. Without the strong force of these powerful women, the E.R.A. would be far from a reality.

EME VP Natalie, Senator Pat Spearman and EME President Kamala Lopez

Senator Patricia Spearman is a Doctor, Minister, Veteran, and ERA Shero. She is the giant on whose shoulders those of us in the modern E.R.A. movement stand on. To sum up Patricia Spearman using words of my own would not do her justice, so please check out this short video of her speaking at one of our many joint events and you will realize why everyone who has ever come into contact with her has a great reverence for this powerful magnetic woman.

For years, Senator Jennifer McCellan of Virginia fought tirelessly for the E.R.A. bill – year after year – even at times when she knew it would fail in the Virginia House. She knew the fight was worth it anyway and in January of 2020 those efforts paid off when she carried the bill over the finish line and the House of Delegates finally voted to ratify E.R.A.

Virginia State Senator Jennifer McClellan

For that, for her perseverance and leadership, we are eternally grateful. She has been a driving force for progressive change in Virginia, leading the passage of landmark laws to invest in education, grow small business, expand access to health care, ban discrimination and inequity, safeguard workers’ rights and voting rights, reform the criminal justice system, protect a woman’s right to choose, and tackle climate change.

Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy

Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy led the E.R.A. bill over its final legal hurdle in the Virginia House of Delegates to achieve the 38 states needed for full ratification of the amendment, an achievement for which we owe her immense gratitude. She was one of the first African-American women to graduate from Virginia Military Institute, a foster mom, a magistrate judge, and public defender.

And finally, where would the E.R.A. be in Virginia without the Deltas?  This fierce, dedicated and fun-loving sorority was instrumental in getting the word out in the community that the E.R.A was something that African-Americans should fight for. We thank the gorgeous ladies in red for their hard work and for our victory.

Without these amazing African American women we would not be where we are today.

And we thank YOU, as always, for your dedication to our growing EME Community. We are proud to report that EME Member Moira Gill, after hearing about EME doc participant Leesha Gooseberry’s situation in New Orleans after completing her parole, has given her an excellent job – this is a lifesaver in these insecure times and we couldn’t be more grateful. We are also excited to be sponsoring Leesha in a Memoir writing class so she can learn to tell the world her story herself.

Leesha Gooseberry

With love,

Natalie, Thila, Kamala and the EME Team

PS: Your generous tax-deductible contributions are an investment in our results-driven organization on the frontlines of the fight for equality. Any amount is greatly appreciated, but for donations of $500 or more we’ll send you our exclusive (and very popular!) handmade Equal Means Equal hoodie as a special thank you.