WVU
Gay rights activists gather to promote awareness in Morgantown
by adminone | Mon, 04/06/2009 - 15:33
SB 238 coverage in the DA
by adam | Sun, 04/05/2009 - 08:57
Fairness held an event in Morgantown yesterday to grow support for SB 238. WVU's Daily Athenaeum wrote about the event.
The Blue Moose Cafe will host a rally Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to
raise awareness for Senate Bill 238, which, if passed, will ban
discrimination based on sexual orientation.
“This is an opportunity for everyone, particularly students to become
involved, to learn what the issues are, and people can learn how to
contribute to a passage of Senate Bill 238 … It’s the voice of the
people, right, so this is our opportunity to make a difference and take
a stand on fairness,” said John Hagen, co-chair for the WVU Council on
Sexual Orientation.
The bill, which was introduced in February, would add to the
pre-existing Human Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act, which protect
individuals against discrimination on the basis of factors such as
gender, religion, race and disability.
Since the bill’s introduction to the West Virginia Legislature, the WVU
Council on Sexual Orientation has been lobbying for the bill.
involved, to learn what the issues are, and people can learn how to
contribute to a passage of Senate Bill 238 … It’s the voice of the
people, right, so this is our opportunity to make a difference and take
a stand on fairness,” said John Hagen, co-chair for the WVU Council on
Sexual Orientation.
The bill, which was introduced in February, would add to the
pre-existing Human Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act, which protect
individuals against discrimination on the basis of factors such as
gender, religion, race and disability.
Since the bill’s introduction to the West Virginia Legislature, the WVU
Council on Sexual Orientation has been lobbying for the bill.
From the Universities
by adam | Wed, 03/11/2009 - 07:28
We have to stories to share today from WVU and Marshall.
First up, a story in the WVU's Daily Athenaeum:
The group’s top priority is to enable all peoples, regardless of their sexual orientation, security at his or her job.
With current West Virginia law, people can be fired from their job based on their real or perceived orientation.
“This has a huge impact on gays and lesbians,” Turman said. “They live in fear of being fired or being out, and it has a tremendous psychological impact because they always have to be guarded about their lives.”
Turman added that this law is important not only to those unfairly discriminated against but also for those who fear being outed.
At Marshall, sophomore Josh Linton makes a strong case for for gay rights in the Mountain State and across the nation:
This isn't about freedom of speech being stifled, it is about humanity. We live in a world where maturity is expected and yet infantile minds stained with selfishness still tend to think that the world must cater to them. Well, it is time that our nation grows up and realizes that punishing people for being themselves is not acceptable.
By allowing fear to dissipate and acceptance to propagate, our nation will also grow. Let us not let Matthew and so many others die in vain. Let's allow equality not to be tethered any longer by the shackles of a violent stigma, and let us allow equality to rein over those who have lived so long in a drought of discrimination.
