Using her experiences as a political strategist and nonprofit manager, Zakiya leads a diverse coalition of over 280 organizations representing 80 million people. This community of activists jointly advocates for gender, racial, and reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and much more under the unifying goal of sex equality. The Coalition’s work is to shift how people talk about their respective issues in order to reflect how all of our issues are connected and to facilitate closer collaboration. Zakiya is also an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown Law teaching a nonpartisan course on how to run for political office and volunteers on several nonprofit boards ranging from advancing reproductive rights to individual financial empowerment.
My top priority this year is to defend our rights and freedom with the most powerful weapon against sex and gender discrimination: the Equal Rights Amendment. The ERA protects everyone from sex discrimination; our coalition of 300 organizations and 80 million people are all united by this principle. Whatever your views are on abortion rights, equal pay, or access to healthcare, there’s no denying that the rights of women, black and brown people, and the LGBTQ+ community are being systematically stripped away. A vocal minority in state legislatures, Congress, and the courts are dismantling laws that protect against sex discrimination, including Title VII and Title IX which made it possible for women to go to college, earn professional degrees, and have careers. We’ve seen the courts rule against abortion and transgender rights, depriving people of their bodily autonomy. We need the Equal Rights Amendment because, unlike a law or court decision, an amendment to the Constitution can’t be steamrolled by a future president, Congress, or court. We are at a pivotal moment, with legislation pending in Congress that would affirm that the Equal Rights Amendment has met all criteria needed to be published in the US Constitution. A handful of Representatives are standing in the way of gender equality; if they don’t vote for the ERA this session, we can vote for people who will. We are closer than we’ve ever been, this is the year we elect equality.
One question I drill into my students who want to run for office is “what makes you the best person for the job?” Successful candidates are able to articulate and demonstrate why others should put their faith in them. Non-political leaders need to do the same and demonstrate that they are the best person for the job so that others will follow their lead.
The best ways to support people running for office are to contribute time and money, vote, and get others to do the same. Volunteering your time and money for a candidate’s campaign helps elect people whom you believe will best represent you and your community. We have to vote like our equality depends on it, because it does. Choosing not to vote isn’t taking a stand against something; it’s giving away your vote and voice to people who don’t have your best interests at heart. Encourage others to engage politically so that we create the politics we want, rather than perpetuate a system that only works for a few. Political engagement is how our country’s most beneficial and detrimental policies came to be. It’s up to us to direct the course of our politics and create policies that benefit everyone.
The key to my success isn’t secret, it’s believing that we have more in common that unites us than differences that divide us. To build coalitions and collaboration, we have to come together on the issues and values we share and recognize the benefits of working together.
I admire those who pushed the boundaries of what was expected to blaze a path for gender equality. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, and many others, fought against the injustice of sex discrimination and led the charge for the Equal Rights Amendment. It’s our responsibility to finish their work by publishing the Equal Rights Amendment.
I couldn’t live without continuing to build a more just society. Injustice is all around us. Standing up against injustice, even when not directly impacted by it, would create a better future for everyone.
I’m excited about the support I see for gender equality and the Equal Rights Amendment across the country. Polls show that gender equality and the ERA are popular, winning issues. Voters believe everyone should be treated equally under the law. That bodes well for our future.
