WE the undersigned petition Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to co-sponsor and support H.J. Res. 61, which would add the following words to U.S. Constitution: "Equality of Rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation the provisions of the article." WE hope you will join with Rep. Carolyn Maloney and 62 of our colleagues in the house in adding your name to this important measure. PLEASE go ahead sign, circulate, post a link or tweet this petition. ************************************************************************************************** August 26, 2009 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Madame Speaker, On the 24th of August, 2007, you released the following statement commemorating Women’s Equality Day, the 87th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, an amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote in the United States of America stating, "We must remain vigilant in the fight for equality for women. Those who came before us would expect no less. Let us honor our history and their sacrifice by continuing through our voices and our actions to support our sisters throughout the nation and the world until true equality is no longer a goal, but a reality." As Founder of Katrina’s Dream, an organization established in memory of my mother-in-law, the Rev. Katrina Swanson, one of the first women priests to be ordained in the Episcopal Church, I applaud your championing of the Women’s Rights Movement. I represent an organization deeply invested in this issue and focused on achieving true equality, critical to your constituency. To this end, I would like to request an appointment with you and your staff in your district office in San Francisco during the August Congressional recess. I believe we can forge a dynamic partnership. Katrina’s Dream is dedicated to the full inclusion of women in society. We have worked with local California communities and collaborated with national organizations. This past July 2009 at the 76th General Convention in Anaheim, California, we were instrumental in the passage of Resolution D042, which called for the Episcopal Church of the United States of America’s to renew its historic support of passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It is crucial that we seize the opportunity to build on the momentum of positive change in the 111th Congress. We are asking for your co-sponsorship and support of H.J.Res. 61, which would add the following words to the U.S. Constitution: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this Article." This Equal Rights Amendment will greatly improve conditions for women in the United States, and with our inspired leadership, has the potential to improve the status of women in the global community. We hope you will join with Rep. Carolyn Maloney and 62 of your colleagues in the House in adding your name to this important measure. Thank you for your continuing support for equal rights. I will follow up with your scheduler to secure a time for our meeting. In the meantime, if you or your staff would like to contact me I can be reached at 415. 233. 2049 or [email protected]. I look forward to meeting with you. Thank you again, Speaker Pelosi, for all that you do. Sincerely, Hélène de Boissière-Swanson Founder, Katrina’s Dream Cc: Dr. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, President and Dean of Episcopal Divinity School Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of the Diocese of California Rt. Rev. John Bryce Chane, Bishop of the Diocese of Washington D.C. Most Rev. Dr. Katherine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Maureen Shea, Director of the Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations Dwayne Davis, Domestic Policy Analysis, Episcopal Public Policy Network Orly Issacson, Legislative Director, Offices of Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, 14th District New York