The Sentinel recently had the opportunity to interview Rep. Lisa Campbell, the representative for District 35 covering Kennesaw and Acworth, following a recent story on her co-sponsoring House Resolution 8.
Rep. Campbell took part in condemning the recent assault of Jalique Rosemond, as well as recent antisemitic flyers left on driveways in Cobb, Fulton, Dekalb and Paulding counties. When discussing the attack on Jalique Rosemond she said, “It’s a horrible atrocity.”
She reiterated her commitment to standing against hate speech. She mentioned the recent protests on campus, saying that she has not spoken with university president Kathy Schwaig, but she did indicate her support for the recent student-led protests.
Campbell said that if students are unhappy with the university’s response, then they have a right to express that. She said that she did not want to comment on what she believes the university’s response should be since she does not have all the information about the university’s response.
Rep. Campbell then spoke on the Equal Rights Amendment, specifically about her personal history with the legislation. She recalled hearing about it from her mother when she was young. She said that her mother, a feminist as well, raised her and her sisters to understand that they have the same capabilities as a man.
This emphasis on equality and the Equal Rights Amendment by her mother created an understanding of the importance of this amendment to her. It is because of this that she referred to her co-sponsoring of House Resolution 8 to be a fulfillment of a childhood dream.
Following learning about the amendment from her mother, she then watched as conservative lawyer and anti-feminist, Phyllis Schlafly helped slow the momentum that was driving the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
“I remember my mom talking about Phyllis Schlafly and how it was a shame that women were working against women,” she said, “She tapped into a longstanding fear in a patriarchal society.”
Campbell pointed to times when women, including her mother, could not purchase anything with her credit card without a man, could not attend Georgia Tech or even work in the same career fields. Although many would acknowledge progress without the amendment, including her election as the first woman to represent the district, she said that we still need gender equality codified into law.
“We have made good progress, but not enough,” she said. She added that she looks forward to seeing more women join the legislature, and personally looks forward to welcoming them.
When discussing her election and whether she perceived it as an uphill battle, she immediately made it clear that she works to avoid using such words when talking about political discourse.
“I am working so hard to not think of anything I do as a battle,” she said, “I believe that these words are rooted in a patriarchal society.”
She continued to say her election was “… an enormous opportunity to represent 50 percent of the population.”
Campbell added that her family was very supportive of her decision to run. She said that growing up in a home with open discussions about the importance of democracy, civil discourse, and valuing equality helped ingrain those beliefs in her that she has taken with her to the state capitol.
