Tag: Jennifer Carroll Foy

Virtual Campus ERA Day

TimeHorse April 28, 2020 No Comments

Although, yet again, I was not able to attend this wonderful conversation about how close we are passing the Equal Rights Amendment and what we can do to cross the threshold, I did think the video was inspiring and though there were too many wonderful folks for me to name all of them, I wanted to thank our next Governor, Jennifer Carroll Foy, for being a part of it.

As Alyssa Milano points out so eloquently, we’re all in this together and every voice counts. Alyssa is amazing and I grew up watching her on Who’s the Boss (as a fellow thespian I hope she knows I don’t pigeonhole her that one role given her expanse of other work) and am so delighted to see her working so hard to extend equal rights to women. I have been a supporter in my heart since before the show premiered, although I’ve only been actively lobbying in Richmond since Delegate Carroll Foy came to office.

Alas, we didn’t get the ERA in 2018 despite my friends and my lobbying. But when I heard the bill was passing through the Illinois General Assembly, I immediately started posting, messaging, and tweeting to my friends in Illinois to get the bill passed, even if it meant Virginia couldn’t be 37. No shame in 38. And no shame in 39 either, as I always tell my dear friend Triana Arnold James in Georgia. I’m just delighted Illinois has a wonderful Republican State Representative Steve Andersson was behind us there and made sure the Illinois made it to 37. I was so proud to shake his hand when HJ79 passed.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Nevada State Senator Pat Spearman. Without Spearman’s push in Nevada, I don’t think I’d have been aware that we still had hope for passage despite the arbitrary and unconstitutional deadline. Thank you Pat. You rock and I hope someday to shake your hand too!

There were so many wonderful people at the event, but most inspiring of all were the student organizers. They inspire me to see the next generation as passionate about this issue as I have been.

Learn about the Equal Rights Amendment

Posted by ERA Coalition on Monday, April 27, 2020

Thank you my lady and gentlemen friends for watching and soon we will have our Twenty-Eighth Amendment, with your help!

Domestic and Sexual Abuse amid the COVID-19 Crisis

TimeHorse April 25, 2020 No Comments

Congressional candidate Vangie Williams, Evelyn BruMar, Susheela Varky, our next Governor, Jennifer Carroll Foy, and my dear friend and survivor Lisa Sales all hosted a special panel yesterday on Domestic and Sexual Violence. I was not able to attend live but this issue is very dear to me, and I wanted to share it with my readers.

Family Violence & Sexual Assault
If you need help in the commonwealth, please 1-800-838-8238. It’s Free, Confidential, and available 24/7

If you can, please open up your hearts and help the women (and men) who are in danger. Check in with your loved ones, your friends, anyone you think needs to hear from you.

And please watch their conversation to help you stay safe, and how to get help. You’re not alone.

Domestic and Sexual Abuse amid the COVID-19 Crisis

This is a Zoom Panel Discussion regarding “Domestic and Sexual Abuse amid the COVID-19 Crisis.”

Posted by Vangie Williams for Congress on Friday, April 24, 2020

Great panel, my friends, let’s get the Domestic Abuse Czar, and happy to help with the app Lisa!

Be safe my lady and gentlemen friends!

Meet Virginia’s next Governor!

TimeHorse April 21, 2020 2 Comments

I was delighted to see Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy at today’s Herndon-Reston Indivisible meeting on Zoom. I first met Delegate Carroll Foy during my many years of trips to Richmond to lobby for the ERA. And Jennifer has been one of the best advocates we’ve had in the General Assembly. She has been a wonderful orator who gave an incredible speech in favor of the ERA last year as we were fighting for the ERA. And in the 2020 session of the General Assembly, it was Jennifer who submitted HJR 1, the ERA bill.

I was, of course, there on 27 January 2020 when Jennifer held a press conference announcing that would be the day both chambers of the General Assembly would be voting on the legislation passed by the other chamber and thus ratify the ERA in Virginia, making us 38 and the last state needed for passage.

Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy
Here I am with Jennifer Carroll Foy on 27 January, 2020, the day we—finally—passed the ERA! This was just before her press conference to announce that both chambers of the General Assembly would be voting on the other chamber’s resolution and it was a race to see who would pass it first. I was confused and didn’t get to the gallery in time (which is why I’m not in the photo on the stairs), but a bunch of us watched the House of Delegates debate and when I went out to powder my nose, I peeked in on the Senate and saw they were debating Jennifer Carroll Foy’s HJR 1. We did it, my friend!

Unfortunately, after the press conference, I got a little lost so wasn’t able to make it to our amazing photo on the stairs that day. Instead, I made my way to the House and Senate conference rooms where the General Assembly was being broadcast. I joined some of my fellow ERA advocates in the House Meeting Room 3. The House of Delegates was busy debating a number of bills and eventually I needed to use the facilities.

On my way back, I peeked in in the Virginia Senate in Senate Meeting Room 3. They were debating Jennifer’s HJR 1! I rushed back to the House Meeting Room and let everyone know it was happening in the Senate. We all rushed over and watched it live, as it happened. As Virginia became the 38th and final state to pass the ERA. We did it! We made history! And, all thanks to Jennifer’s HJR1!

As my readers know, I have long advocated for the adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment, but I am happy to hear Jennifer supports many of the other issues I care deeply about. That is why, without hesitation, I am happy to support Jennifer as she announces her bid to become the next Governor of Virginia!

Be well my lady and gentlemen friends!

House of Representatives passes HJ79

TimeHorse February 13, 2020 1 Comment

Since 2018 I have been advocating for the adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment. Well, that is to say, since 2018 I have been advocating in my adulthood as I was a staunch ERA advocate back in the early 1980s when I was so gutted it didn’t make it. But yes, I have been going down to Richmond since 2018 to get the General Assembly of Virginia to pass the ERA.

ERA Lobbying in 2018
Here I am with my friend Emily Haines to lobby for the ERA in 2018
Photo from Fredericksburg.com

Fast forward to 2020 and the Virginia General Assembly finally ratifies the ERA. I have many photos from that day including one awesome photo with Jennifer Carroll Foy, but I’ll save those for another day. Instead, I want to talk about the passage of HJ79, the House of Representatives bill to remove the ERA deadline. My dear friend, Lisa A. Sales, was able to get gallery tickets for a bunch of us ERA supporters to attend the hearing on the House floor with none other than my friend and Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton presiding. Unfortunately, I have no photos from that as electronics aren’t allowed in the House Gallery, but you can see it on CSPAN.

The vote itself was very harrowing. At first there was a voice vote, but a Republican member of Congress called for a Recorded Vote. The acting Speaker, who had moved on from Wexton, held the vote open past the 15 minute mark to give all but 20 members of Congress time to vote. At first, the yay votes were ahead. But then around the 80 mark, the nay votes overtook the yay votes and we were gutted. But in the end, the final total was 232 (56%) for and 183 (44%) against. At 218 yay, though, we knew we had it. 5 Republicans joined 227 Democrats to pass HJ79 in the House!

However, I was able to catch up with a bunch of my fellow ERA advocates at a special event in the House.

Celebrating ERA Passage with the Deltas
These are some of my ERA friends and allies. The Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Inc has long been an advocate of passage and I was happy to work with them for this passage and be in this photo with them and their fellow allies

We Finally, our supporters in Congress were there to celebrate with us. I was very happy to meet Abigail Spanberger, Carolyn Maloney, and Jackie Speier as well as (not pictured) former Republican Illinois State Representative Steve Andersson, who was instrumental in getting Illinois to be the 37th state.

Spanberger, Maloney, and Speier
Congresswomen Abigail Spanberger, Carolyn Maloney, and Jackie Speier have been longtime advocates for the ERA and are instrumental for getting HJ79 to remove the ERA deadline passed through the House of Representatives

It was great seeing Ellie Smeal and of course my friends on fighting to make Georgia the 39th. But also, it was so wonderful to catch up with my good friend Eileen Davis. Eileen is a longtime advocate of the ERA too and what’s more, she raised a very politically savvy daughter. None other than Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, pictured above. One of my highlights is always to have long chats with Eileen, she’s such a font of knowledge.

When it was time to go, we said our goodbyes. The last person I saw was Lisa. Thank you Lisa, and thank you everyone! You are all wonderful!

Now, on to the Senate…