Since 1923, men and women all over the United States have supported the passage of an Equal Rights Amendment, or ERA. This potential 28th amendment to the constitution, which would guarantee equal rights to everyone regardless of sex, was so popular that it was passed by both houses of Congress in 1972, but not enough states ratified it in order for the amendment to be added to the Consitution. Since then, women have continued to endure unequal treatment, earning 77 cents to every dollar men make.

The LGBT community is another group in the United States that is currently being discriminated against. In a few states, there are laws that prohibit students from learning about homosexuality. In 29 states, it is legal to fire someone for his or her sexual orientation. And in 34 states, it is legal to fire people because they are transgender. At the same time, federal judges all over the nation are acknowledging the unconstitutionality of discriminating against the LGBT community. Not only are these anti-gay laws unfair, but they also violate the most powerful law in the land.

Despite the size and scope of the problems facing women and LGBT people, the solution is fairly simple. In order to prevent any further injustice, a new ERA should immediately be passed and ratified by the United States. I propose it should read as follows:

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, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity.

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.

Note that this resolution only differs from the original ERA in one aspect - seven words have been added to section one.

Even if you are neither a woman nor a member of the LGBT community, you definitely know someone who belongs to one or more of these groups, and it is essential to resolve this matter. Imagine the heartbreak of learning that your child was bullied in school because of his or her sexuality- and that the teacher could legally do nothing to intervene. Think of the frustration a woman goes through as she encounters roadblock after roadblock on her climb up the corporate ladder. Under no circumstances should anyone be treated so unfairly.

The argument of "traditional family values" has often been used to defend the mistreatment of women and LGBT people. However, a more noble American tradition declares that we are all created equal and should all enjoy "certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness," as suggested by the Declaration of Independence. While the Founding Fathers may not have supported women's rights or LGBT rights, it is important to recognize that times change - the majority of Founding Fathers did not support rights for African Americans in the United States either. Unfair treatment has occurred for too long in this nation. Now is the time to inscribe equality into our Constitution.