By Jeanne Neath

According to the Coalition for the Feminist Amendments, hearings in the Senate about the Equality Act ( H.R. 5) are happening on Wednesday this week (March 17th). The Coalition for the Feminist Amendments asks that we call members of the Judiciary committee, especially Senator Tillis (NC), and ask that the Senate allow representatives from the Coalition for the Feminist Amendments and the LGB Alliance to testify at the hearings. You can reach Senator Tillis at 202-224-6342. See my recent blog for background information about the Equality Act.

Here’s a short message I came up with for my phone call to Senator Tillis based on information the Coalition for the Feminist Amendments sent me. You are welcome to use it or modify it as you wish.

“I do NOT support H.R. 5, the Equality Act, as currently written. At the Senate Judiciary Hearing please call for representatives from the Coalition for the Feminist Amendments and the LGB Alliance to speak as witnesses, including M. Lynette Hartsell. and Dr. Callie Burt. The Equality Act must be amended and M. Lynette Hartsell and Dr. Callie Burt will provide substantial information for the Committee and Congress on the fatal flaws that exist in the current bill. The bill as it currently exists is harmful to women, to Lesbians and to gay men. I am a Lesbian myself and I oppose H.R. 5, the Equality Act, as currently written. Please make sure that this bill is amended. Thank you!”

You can find contact information for U.S. Senators at this address: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm. You can email Senator Tillis at: https://www.tillis.senate.gov/email-me

Here is a letter written by M. Lynette Hartsell that the LGB Alliance is providing for anyone to modify and then send to Senator Tillis (and other members of the Judiciary Committee):

“Sen. Tillis, I am writing concerning H.R.5 pending in the Judiciary Committee set for a hearing on Wednesday. I am requesting that the Committee call by remote means the following witnesses: Dr. Callie Burt and M. Lynette Hartsell. We oppose the act as written and ask that you propose the suggested amendments. We can provide substantial information for the Committee and Congress regarding the fatal flaws within the bill. Dr. Burt is an Associate Professor at Georgia State University who has written extensively regarding the Equality Act. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341804412_Scrutinizing_the_US_Equality_Act_2019_A_Feminist_Examination_of_Definitional_Changes_Sociolegal_Ramifications and https://callieburt.substack.com/p/the-inequality-of-the-equality-act?r=h1zw9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=copy. I am a retired attorney in North Carolina and a spokesperson for LGB Alliance USA which is part of an international LGB organization. Dr. Burt and I are also part of CoFA (Coalition for Feminist Amendments). You should have received our letter regarding the Feminist Amendment to The Equality Act several months ago. https://feministstruggle.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/FeministAmendments.EqualityAct-FINAL12.14.19.pdf I’m certain that Sen. Tillis would join us in our desire to pass a well-written bill that protects the rights of all citizens. Please review the documents cited in this message and call M. Lynette Hartsell and Dr. Callie Burt as witnesses for the hearing Wednesday. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.”