Thurmond, a town of FIVE, recently passed an ordinance that prohibits discrimination against LGBTs. This sent our WV legislators into a tailspin right into the closet.
West Virginia's law doesn't currently protect our LGBT citizens; it includes protection based on race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, blindness, disability or familial status only. The people of Thurmond were tired of waiting around for our less-than-evolved legislators to join the 21st century. "If the smallest city can pass it and come together unanimously and be of one mind about something, then I don't think it's too hard that other people can come together and provide protections that should be provided on a statewide level," said Tighe Bullock, a member of Thurmond's council. The ordinance was passed on February 9.
This did not go unnoticed in our legislature. On Monday, Delegate Lynne Arvon introduced the West Virginia Intrastate Commerce Improvement Act, HB 2881. Sounds kind of innocent, right? And on first reading, it sort of sounds ok. It even says its purpose is "ensuring that businesses, organizations and employers doing business in West Virginia are subject to uniform nondiscrimination laws and obligations."
Well, not really. It's that word "uniform" that is the fly in the ointment. Ms Arvon is apparently afraid that would-be employers will be put off by all these little towns implementing their own codes for employer behavior. The bill goes on: "Such uniform laws will benefit the businesses, organizations and employers seeking to do business in our state and will attract new ones to our state." Ok, so what's the problem? Here we go. HB 2881 says "No county, municipality or other political subdivision may adopt or enforce a local law, ordinance, resolution, rule or policy that creates a protected classification or prohibits discrimination on a basis not contained in state law." (So if I wanted my town to make it illegal to discriminate against men with large moles on their noses, I guess I'm out of luck. Darn)
This ugly little bill says so much about the ugly little minds of some people it makes me ill. Thurmond did a good thing. They're saying, "If you're a lesbian, and you want a job, we will not treat you any differently than Jethro or Billy Jo. Del Arvon says, "If you're a lesbian, not only will our laws not protect you, but we will not allow any jurisdiction in WV to protect you, either. "
Thu Feb 26, 2015 at 7:43 AM PT: The cavedwellers on the "Government Organization" committee have passed the bill onto the House. The public hearing is tomorrow at 8 am. If any of you want to attend (and hopefully show your disgust), please do.