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Loading ...West Virginia rejects anti-gay amendment
03.30.2009 2:23pm EDT
(Charleston, West Virginia) A bid to advance an amendment to West Virginia’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage has failed.
Republicans and social conservatives had pushed the amendment, but it languished in a House committee.Monday, Republican delegates attempted to drive the bill directly to the floor for a vote. The bid failed 67-30 along party lines.
Amending the West Virginia constitution requires approval of the legislature and a vote by the electorate.
Earlier this month, the conservative Family Policy Council began a telemarketing campaign accusing two lawmakers – Delegates Carrie Webster and Barbara Fleischauer – of blocking a vote on the measure.
Webster and Fleischauer called the move “intimidation.” The bill was tied up in the House Committee on Constitutional Revision, which Fleischauer heads. If approved there, it would have gone to the House Judiciary committee headed by Webster..
Last year, the Family Policy Council unsuccessfully attempted to pressure Gov. Joe Manchin to recall the legislature to pass the proposed amendment. The measure was added to the legislature’s agenda this session.
West Virginia has had marriage law since 2000. But amendment supporters say it doesn’t go far enough and could be challenged in court.
Does anyone really care what happens in the most pathetic state in the union? Gay people there should do themselves a favor and move out if they can!
Progress like this in West Virginia is important. One of the most traditionally gay-unfriendly states rejected an anti-gay amendment. That’s an indicator of progress we should all be glad for.
“Does anyone really care what happens in the most pathetic state in the union? Gay people there should do themselves a favor and move out if they can!”
Guess what, Pete…today it just becamea little more pathetic. What glass house of a state do you live in?
Living well in WV.
“Peter”, WV may, in your opinion, be “the most pathetic state in the Union”, but it has NOT amended its state constitution against gay marriages like 30 other states have. I consider that to be a major saving grace and a place of hope for the Mountaineer State!
I can tell you that West Virginia will probably be adopting an LGB non-discrimination act in the next couple of weeks. That’s more than can be said about Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, or Virginia. Talk about pathetic.
Actually, WV is a great place to live. As for the LGBT community, well, it’s growing. Jefferson county has a lot of gay residents and the number keeps getting larger. I find more hate in Metro areas than I do in our state. I’ll stick with WV.
Good news to hear that this amendment did not pass! I am from WV, and have a parent that is a lobbyist there now – alas I am sure very much on the opposite end of the issue than I. Peter, I moved from WV years ago to escape what was a mind set I did not agree with, but these minor accomplishments give me hope that one day gay citizens of WV will not be looked down upon so widely. It is my responsibility, and that of other former West Virginians, to provide all the support – vocally and financially – to helping further the fight for gay rights back home… and across both the nation and the world.
And on a side note… please refrain from slandering ANY state in our union! It’s not American, it’s not neighborly, and mostly it’s just ignorant. Many West Virginians would I am sure disagree with you and take great offense to such a remark. WV has many beautiful qualities in both it’s physical landscape and the kindness of its people. Sometimes one has to be bigger than those around them and in my life I have found often that direct, polite conversation can help to ease concerns to those that would hold us back. Not everyone will change. Many will still not understand, but we must also embrace them for their views, misguided as they may be, and learn from them how to better address the issue next time. In the end, that is how progress is made!
So here is to todays great step forward! Great news WV!
WE JUST HAD THIS SAME LEGISLATION LAST WEEK IN DELAWARE. AND IT , TOO WAS TURNED DOWN-THESE FAMILY POLICY COUNCIL PEOPLE REALLY GET AROUND-DONT THEY? SHOULDNT THEY BE DEVOTING THEIR EFFORTS TO HELPING THE HOMELESS, THE HUNGRY, THE ABUSED AND THE UNEMPLOYED,,,,,AND YET IT SEEMS THEIR PRIORITIES ARE TO DENY US OUR CIVIL RIGHTS AND PURSUIT OF LIFE LIBERTY AND HAPPINESS. THANKS TO ALL IN WEST VIRGINIA-YOU DID GOOD.
Charlie Burd Said: “Good news to hear that this amendment did not pass! I am from WV, and have a parent that is a lobbyist there now – alas I am sure very much on the opposite end of the issue than I.”
Charlie, take what solace you can from the fact we do not get to choose our parents.
Hi again all! I said that, as I have done in the past , to just get you motivated to reply! Glad you did and I hope people in WV and others will be glad that I did and read these comments.
“West Virginia has had marriage law since 2000. But amendment supporters say it doesn’t go far enough and could be challenged in court.”
You would think that since they acknowledge it can be successfully challenged in courts their attitude about it would change. Sort of like saying “I know I can’t light this fire underwater, but here I go!”
Sure celebrate if ya want but bear in mind if WV has a referendum procedure it won’t mean diddly squat. here’s the way politics works folks: 1)get the legislature to “heroically” bounce anti-gay legislation. 2)religious nutjobs cry, bitch and whine. 3)religious nutjobs get Marriage Equality banned through the “intelligence” of the inbred West Virginian native voting bloc. 4)”stunned” legislature shakes its head in “sadness” quoting “well gee whiz folks, we gave it the ol’ college try”. legislature gets off the hook. Religious inbred loonies have their “victory”. We homos are once again sh*t all over and locked out. What a country eh? makes me want to run right out and join the military so I defend our great, freedom loving sh*thole of a nation. Remember folks do NOT burn the US flag! It’s an incredible WASTE of perfectly descent toilet paper! LMFAO!
Well, Shawn, West Virginia does NOT have a referendum clause in its Constitution. The only way for the people of West Virginia to vote on such an amendment is if it first receives majority votes in both Houses of the Legislature.
Shoot. I meant to say that today WV became a little LESS pathetic… Yes, Pete, we have a long way to go. Thanks to our legislators who have the courage to do what’s right instead of what’s popular.
Go West Virginia!! I am shocked!