First Church Peace and Social Justice

BY JUSTIN MURDOCK

I was able to attend the LGBT lobby day in Charleston yesterday.  I am very impressed by the work being done by Fairness WV and its allies.

HB2045, also known as EHNDA (the Employment and Housing Non-Discrimination Act), which would add Sexual Orientation as a protected class under the WV Human Rights Act has stalled in the WV house for the past two years but passed in the senate. 

In a meeting with one of Speaker Richard Thompson's staffers yesterday, it seems that if he will take the leadership to bring the bill to the floor for debate and vote, it will pass!  PLEASE write and ask him to take initiative on this bill.  He needs to know he has support to do so!  PLEASE add any personal stories of employee or housing discrimination that has affected you or someone close to you.  Feel free to add your own language, this is simply a template, much of its language coming from Fairness WV.  Forward this to your circles, groups, loved ones, etc.  ACTION IS NEEDED!

I will be writing a very personal letter, as one of the speakers constituents.  Please do your part, this legislation may seem like a baby step when other states are passing marriage equality, but a baby step is better than a step backwards.  This is where we can make a difference NOW.

Contact info:
Speaker of the House
Richard Thompson
Capitol Address:
Room 228M, Building 1
State Capitol Complex
Charleston, WV 25305

Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3210
Business Phone: (304) 522-8699
E-mail: speaker.thompson@frontier.com

"Dear Speaker Thompson,

I believe in basic, fundamental protections for West Virginia’s workers and citizens, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. I believe that all West Virginians have the right to work free from fear of being fired for who they are, and the right to have a home free from fear of being evicted for who they are.

This year, we are closer than ever before to passing the Employment & Housing Nondiscrimination Act. For starters, we carry the support of West Virginia’s citizens. Fairness WV revealed yesterday that in a January 2010 poll from Greenberg Quinlan, 61% of West Virginians “favor protecting gay and lesbian people from discrimination in employment and housing.” We believe that number is significantly higher today.

I was also thrilled to hear at a press conference on February 8^th, that West Virginia’s labor unions are standing with this legislation. Yes, legislation to include sexual orientation in the WV Human Rights Act has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO and the United Mine Workers of America! Labor has been so critical in establishing the most basic rights for workers in our state, and they have been at the forefront of the fight for stronger, fairer, more equal protections for all. With their endorsement of EHNDA, they are helping again to establish those basic, fundamental rights of fairness and equality for all – to stand with my personal beliefs, and the LGBT community in WV, to make sure that all West Virginians, regardless even of sexual orientation, have the right to work free from the fear of discrimination.

With labor and the vast majority of West Virginians standing with this legislation, I think it’s about time for EHNDA to pass.

As Speaker of the house, I ask you to bring this bill, HB2045 to the house floor for debate and vote. I believe Tim Miley will support moving this legislation out of the Judiciary committee if he has your backing to take it to the floor.  I also believe a majority of the house will approve the bill.  I know the bill has been passed by the Senate twice now and that the Governor will support it if both chambers pass it. I hope you will let this come to a vote and let the democratic process prevail, there is no reason to put off a bill that will help real WV people and families be secure in jobs and housing.  That is, according to the latest numbers 40,000 West Virginians including 5200 couples, many of them raising children!  Numbers that are certainly climbing.

Please do not allow so many hardworking citizens of your state to continue to be allowed to be discriminated against simply because some view this as ‘controversial’.  Basic rights are not controversial and this bill has the support of 61% of West Virginia voters. It is not only a bill to protects the LGBT community either as currently, employees can be fired for ‘perceived’ orientation whether they are actually gay or not!  We cannot tell our schools to protect LGBT students with enumerated anti-bullying policies like the WV school board put into policy this year, and then allow employers and landlords to bully the LGBT community.  I just ask you to do the right thing, and treat others as you would want to be treated.

Sincerely,

[insert name and contact info]"