Minnesota lawmakers debate constitutional amendment to protect abortion

Minnesota lawmakers launched their debate Monday on far-reaching legislation to amend the constitution to protect abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.

The Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment would be among the nation's most expansive protections of abortion and LGBTQ+ rights if it is approved by lawmakers this session and then by voters on the 2026 ballot.

Over 100 people crammed into the legislative hearing room Monday. Supporters wore green clothes and buttons that said “ERA YES” while opponents wore bright red shirts that said “NO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT to kill unborn babies."

Betty Folliard, whose group ERA Minnesota has been pushing for such a measure since 2014, testified in support, as did members of Gender Justice—an advocacy organization for gender equity—and OutFront Minnesota, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group.

“This isn’t just about reproductive justice,” Folliard said in an interview. “It’s also about pay inequity, historic stereotypes and discrimination that keep on being overlooked, generation to generation to generation.”