An hour and a half of taunting and tortured is covered by WSAZ when a 15 year old camper is targeted at 4H camp. Fairness WV is investigating.

Tom Miller rates the chances of the Amendment going anywhere. (Not good).

The AP's Lawrence Messina has a second article on last week's hearings.  Although there is no new original reporting, Messina reviews one of Fairness' arguments against further amendments:  that this is a partisan political movement. Messina mistakenly ascribes Delegate Frazier with a critical motive when he asked whether he would be a bigot if he voted for the amendment.  He should have just asked Frazier whether the question was simply legitimate or a pointed comment. Delegate Frazier spoke to Skinner with a friendly demeanor immediately after the hearing in full view of the press.  Messina goes on to quote "members of the audience" without attribution.

(Charleston, July 16, 2009) While considering a proposed policy change tonight, the Kanawha County School Board swapped out protection for gay and lesbian students for a generic reference to classes found in Federal, State, and local law.  While it appears that the Board caved to hate gropus' pressure, the last minute swap, seemingly orchestrated, may back fire since Charleston has a human rights ordinance.  That ordinance protects people who are discriminated against because of their sexual orientation.  Moreover, once the current Federal Hate Crimes Bill passes Congress (expected any day), and the President signs it, then Federal law will also refer to sexual orientation.

Fairness WV's President Stephen Skinner said, "It's incredibly disappointing to see the Board fail to stand up for the kids who need it most.  Whatever the Board thinks, it is not okay for LGBT kids to be targeted for abuse.  I can only imagine what the kids in Kanawha County now think after they were led to believe the Board cared about their plight.  Having said that, I am pleased that their oversight of Charleston law means that the kids will be protected."

The Gazette's coverage by Davin White gets the real story of how the School Board's intentions backfire.  The TV news misses  the real scoop, but gives relatively good coverage of Clayton Stover.

People for the American Way has created a list of lies used by the opponents of the Hate Crimes Bill. One of the lies has to do with te description of sexual orientation.  As the blog shows:

The first falsehood is that because the bill does not include an explicit definition of “sexual orientation,” theterm would be used to cover, depending on which Religious Right figure is speaking at any moment, either a list of 30 “paraphilias” listed in the American Psychicatric Association’s current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or a much larger list of “547 sexual deviancies,” as claimed by radio host Janet Porter and RightMarch.com PAC.  The ever-memorable Pat Robertson suggested that it might protect “people who have sex with ducks.”

Sound familiar?  Jeremy Dys claimed at the marriage hearing the American Psychiatric Association defined sexual orientation as including 30 different types.  The truth?

HRC's Backstory blog covers the hearing and Fairness' involvement.

The round up from yesterday's hearing starts with WVa Blue's pre-hearing coverage.  The best part about the piece is the link to Hoppy Kercheval's column where he opposes the amendment:  "I don't think we need a Constitutional Amendment defining marriage, but I do think we could use a crash course in the importance long-term, committed relationships in maintaining healthy, productive families."  Hoppy makes it clear that, while he isn't there on marriage, he supports a civil union type situation.

During today's joint judiciary committee hearing, lawmakers and advocates will be discussing an unnecessary "marriage protection" amendment. Fairness West Virginia will be there testifying and sending updates from the hearing.

Follow the action at our Twitter account (you don't have to sign up to see the updates!).

The week starts with an editorial in the Charleston Gazette slamming the tactics of groups opposed to the proposed Kanawha County School's policy that will include sexual orientation as a protect class of students.  Young advocate, Clayton Stover gets credit for his brave testimony before the Board.  The Gazette emphasizes the basic point that the hate groups refuse to acknowledge:  "After all, gays don't choose their sexual orientation, and shouldn't be blamed for it."  The School Board is poised to vote on the policy on Thursday.

On Tuesday, during the Legislative interims in Charleston, a joint Judiciary subcommittee will hear about whether the West Virginia consitution should be fiddled with to "protect" marriage.  Fairness will be there, providing a voice for LGBT West Virginians and all citizens who believe in equality.