ERA in states is praised

Equal rights amend-

WASHINGTON Æ ments put into state constitutions have expanded the rights of women rather than eroded them as critics claim, the women's year commission reports.

"Fairer decisions on divorce to homemakers, to children and to husbands are resulting from state ERAS," the report says.

An analysis of the impact of language banning sex discrimination in 15 states was conducted by the Women's Law Project of Philadelphia. The analysis was in a report released this week by the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year.

The commission said the analysis knocks down predictions by ERA critics that the amendment would lead to homosexual mar riages, a ban on separate bathrooms and elimination of husbands' support of their spouses.

"No laws prohibiting homosexual marriage have been invalidated and no laws providing for separate toilets have been overturned," the commission said in a final report to President Ford.

"Rape laws have not been invalidated by state ERAS," it said. "State courts in Colorado, Illinois, Maryland and Texas have all upheld rape provisions protecting only women and penalizing men, or penalizing men more. severely."