President Joe Biden's executive opinion on the Equal Rights Amendment comes in the final days of his presidency. Some local advocates wish he and Democrats had acted sooner.

The Equal Rights Amendment, which would prohibit discrimination based on gender, was sent to the states for ratification in 1972. Congress set a deadline of 1979 for three-quarters of state legislatures to ratify the amendment, then extended it to 1982.

Supporters say it is needed to protect against discrimination. Opponents argue the timetable to have it become part of the Constitution has passed.