Core issues

 NOWof GMC condemns the racism that inflicts a double burden of race and sex discrimination on women of color. Seeing human rights as indivisible, we are committed to identifying and fighting against those barriers to equality and justice that are imposed by racism. A leader in the struggle for civil rights since its inception in 1966, NOW is committed to diversifying our movement, and we continue to fight for equal opportunities for women of color in all areas including employment, education, and reproductive rights. Our Racial Justice Committee is working to encourage growth at all levels within our chapter and within our community to combat racism. 

NOW is committed to fighting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in all areas, including employment, housing, public accommodations, health services, child custody, and in military policies. NOW is committed to educational efforts that combat the adverse effects of homophobia, promotes positive images in the media, and ultimately ensure civil rights protection for all. NOW asserts the right of LGBTQIA individuals to live their lives with dignity and security. We believe in marriage equality for all. 

 NOW affirms that reproductive rights are issues of life and death for women, not mere matters of choice. NOW fully supports access to safe and legal abortion, effective birth control and emergency contraception, to reproductive health services, and education for all women. We oppose attempts to restrict these rights through legislation, regulation, or Constitutional amendment. 

NOW is unique in its approach to the issue of violence against women, emphasizing that there are many interrelated aspects to the issue — domestic violence; sexual assault; sexual harassment; violence at abortion clinics; hate crimes across lines of gender, sexuality, and race; the gender bias in our judicial system that further victimizes survivors of violence; and the violence of poverty emphasized by the radical right’s attacks on poor women and children — all of which result from society’s attitudes toward women and efforts to “keep women in their place.” 

Equality in pay, job opportunities, political structure, social security, and education will remain an elusive dream without a guarantee of equality in the U.S. Constitution. The progress we have made — and must continue to make — towards women’s equality can be lost at any time because those advances depend on legislation that can be (and has been) weakened or repealed by Congress. Although we did not succeed in ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, winning a constitutional guarantee of equality for women remains one of our top priorities.

Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

Florida NOW passed at its January 2003 meeting a resolution reapplying organizational resources to win ratification of the ERA in Florida. Since then, we have continuously engaged in a multi-faceted campaign, including lobbying of the Legislature, hosting Rallies in Tallahassee, garnering support of like-minded organizations, and letter-writing.

What you can do:

• Contact your City or County Commission to get them to support the ratification of the ERA.
• Get your other civic organizations to sign on, and work for, the ERA.
• Gather signatures for an advertisement to be placed in your local paper.
• Write letters to the Editor to your local paper. See the sample below.
• Contact your local Representatives and Senators to be a co-sponsor of the ERA.
• Stay up-to-date with Florida NOW’s current ERA efforts on our ERA YES NOW! Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2032263987036725/

 Women are disproportionately affected by climate change all over the world—including in the United States. 

 New Orleans is a helpful place for us to look to understand the realities of climate change impacts on the ground,

Eighty‑three percent of single mothers were unable to return home after Hurricane Katrina for a full two years after the storm. It's estimated that two‑thirds of jobs lost after Hurricane Katrina were lost by women.

After a disaster, often the best and only jobs available are in construction and rebuilding efforts, which are traditionally male‑dominated fields.

 While all of us are affected by climate change, some people are more vulnerable, and that includes women and kids. Take heat waves. Those are being fueled by climate change.

Children spend more time outdoors playing. They're more vulnerable, more susceptible to heat‑related illness. Pregnant women, they and their fetuses—their babies‑to‑be—are at risk for low birth weight.

Climate change is affecting the range of insects that can carry diseases and also the period of time that they're active. It's making the range and that season bigger and lasts longer, and that puts women, children, and older people at greater risk.

While women are great at connecting the dots between climate change and its effects on health, we, right now, are largely left out of the leadership globally to make a change in the way we get energy and moving toward a clean future.

That has got to change. There's got to be more equity.

 In a study of 130 countries, it was found that when women are in government positions, they're more likely to sign on to international treaties that are taking action against climate change.

Women play critical roles in our communities, and our voices must be heard for climate action. In order to have a resilient future, for the thriving of our communities, women must have a seat at the table.