Mormon woman says her religion, ERA can co-exist
First of two parts.
Anissa Rasheta is a Mormon mother of three who lives in east Mesa, never misses her kid’s cross country meets, and makes dinner every night.
She’s also an advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment, heading up Mormons for ERA in Arizona, a group about 50 members strong, and serving on the board of ERA Task Force AZ, a coalition of groups lobbying for passage.
Rasheta knows her position puts her at odds with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She could face consequences for speaking out.
“I’d be willing to take them,” she said. “I’m a good person so I’m not worried about it.”
Sonia Johnson, a Virginia woman who co-founded Mormons for ERA in 1977, was ex-communicated in 1979. Times have changed, Rasheta said. The Salt Lake Tribune reported in January revisions to a temple ceremony. Women now make the same covenants, or promises, to God as men.
Rasheta doesn’t believe the ERA conflicts with her faith, which teaches, “All are alike unto God.”
It’s what she stresses when she talks to lawmakers, particularly those who are Mormon. She thinks they meet with her because of their shared faith.
“They are curious,” Rasheta said. They ask, “How are you supporting this if you are Mormon?”
Only one state is needed to cross the 38-state threshold required to put the ERA into the U.S. Constitution. Rasheta believes it could be Arizona.
Three bipartisan bills, two in the Senate and one in the House, with 33 cosponsors, have been introduced this session.
After Rasheta met with newly elected Sen. Tyler Pace, a Mesa Republican who’s Mormon, he spent days digging into the issue. “We got him really excited about it,” she said. On Jan. 25, Pace signed as a co-sponsor of one of the bills.
Six days later, Pace pulled his name from the bill.
Tuesday: Doubts within her church.