Vermont Commission on Women

11/04/2026

The Vermont Commission on Women celebrates the passage of an equal rights amendment to the Vermont constitution after 74% of Vermont voters cast their ballots for Proposal 4 in yesterday’s election. The Vermont Commission on Women testified in support of the amendment and provided public education in advance of its adoption.

“Today was long anticipated and long fought for by generations of Americans over hundreds of years,” said Cary Brown, Executive Director. “We’ve never been able to take for granted equal rights under the law, and now it will be built into the fabric of our most fundamental document, ensuring civil rights for all Vermonters.”

The Vermont Commission on Women would like to thank all those who worked to bring this achievement to fruition, especially: Vermont voters, legislative leaders, the Human Rights Commission, Vermont, the Office of Racial Equity, Vermont Interfaith Action, the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, and the ACLU-Vermont as well as the countless Vermonters throughout history who advocated for equal protection.

Read more in our full press release:

Press Releases November 4, 2026 The Vermont Commission on Women celebrates the passage of an equal rights amendment to the Vermont constitution after 74% of Vermont voters cast their ballots for Proposal 4 in yesterday’s election. The Vermont Commission on Women testified in support of the amendme...

11/02/2026

A new study from AARP shows caregivers' out-of-pocket costs rose about 60% in the last five years.

11/02/2026

Please welcome Emily Myers as VCW's new Assistant Director!

Emily Myers, PhD, is a social scientist with a decade of experience researching how to improve gender equality. Her research has explored women’s political and economic participation, women’s health, gender-based violence, and the ways policies and programs can expand opportunities for women and gender non-conforming people. She has worked in academic, nonprofit, and international development settings to use research to help improve people's lives. Emily is excited to bring that experience back to the Vermont Commission on Women – where she interned in 2014 – and to contribute to the Commission’s work to advance gender equity in Vermont.

10/30/2026

On Tuesday, Vermonters have the power to amend the constitution to protect equal rights by passing Proposition 4. Here's what our Commissioners have to say about it:

"On Election Day, November 3, 2026, Vermonters have the opportunity to vote to add a long-overdue Equal Rights Amendment to our Vermont Constitution. If passed favorably by a majority of Vermont voters, Vermont can join the 28 states that already have explicit inclusion of some form of equal rights in their state constitutions." - Susan Sussman

"Protected classes exist because certain groups repeatedly encountered barriers that others did not. Naming those groups in constitutional language is not about exclusion. It is about identifying where equal treatment has historically broken down and providing a clearer framework for addressing it when it occurs." - Amanda Van Eps

"The protection of fundamental rights should not be left to the whims of politics. At a moment when the equal rights that previous generations fought for are under immense threat, Vermonters have an opportunity to take a stand. Vote yes on Proposal 4 to protect fundamental equal rights now and into the future." - Aleta Sprague

You can find all of the op-eds written by our Commissioners, as well as a webinar by Executive Director Cary Brown and HRC Executive Director Big Hartman, linked in our bio, to learn more.

10/28/2026

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Learn more about how to help a friend, family member, or coworker experiencing domestic violence from VT Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

If someone you care about was experiencing domestic violence, would you know how to help?

This , we're sharing a guide to help you recognize signs of abuse, understand the different forms it can take, and learn practical ways to support someone who may be experiencing it.

Learn more 🔗 https://bit.ly/3TY8kFE

10/26/2026

Please welcome Amelia Vath as VCW's new Communications and Operations Manager!

Amelia Vath was raised in Vermont and graduated from Saint Michael’s College with a BA in Political Science and minors in Economics and History. She has spent most of her career in public service. She previously worked for Senator Patrick Leahy in Washington, DC, and was most recently the Senior Advisor to the Vermont Attorney General, leading the office’s communications and outreach. She is currently working toward completion of the Vermont Certified Public Manager program. Amelia lives in Montpelier with her wife and volunteers her time with the Montpelier Neighbor Net.

10/24/2026

10/21/2026

On Election Day, Vermonters can enshrine equal rights in our state constitution. If enacted, this would culminate an organizing effort that has spanned generations.

Have you played a part in this or previous efforts to pass an Equal Rights Amendment? If so, we want to hear your story. Click the link below to contribute to our storytelling project on this movement's history.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSezmnnXXwHVxYMVMUwr4CTH6r_yAiP852QIkLnRcsmeVtRh_w/viewform

10/20/2026

Disabled women workers are paid just 56 cents for every dollar paid to nondisabled men. We must break down the barriers that keep disabled women in poverty. Read more from IWPR: https://bit.ly/4se0u7r

10/20/2026

In today's Rutland Herald, VCW Chair Aleta Sprague makes the case for why stronger constitutional protections for equal rights matter in this moment--and takes on some of the misinformation about Proposal 4.

"The protection of fundamental rights should not be left to the whims of politics. At a moment when the equal rights that previous generations fought for are under immense threat, Vermonters have an opportunity to take a stand."

According to a new poll, two-thirds of Vermonters feel it is “very important” for Vermont to resist federal threats to state civil rights protections. Next month, voters will have a