Reflecting on the West Virginia Legislative Session

I typically only use this blog to share my journey as an author. I’m going off topic to discuss recent political events transpiring during the legislative session in my home state of West Virginia.

I’ve never been one to follow politics too deeply. I’ve kept up enough to know for whom I want to vote, but I lean rather far to the left in my values and beliefs so that’s never been a difficult decision. With this legislative session, however, I’ve paid close attention, and it has been a largely disappointing and worrisome process.

Topping that list of disappointments was House Bill 4012, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which passed the House of Delegates by a wide margin in February. Called a "license to discriminate" by opponents, you can read a little about why this piece of legislation was viewed by many, like myself, as dangerous and unnecessary in this post. The very name confounds me. Why seek to restore something that is already a guaranteed right? An example of a right that isn’t guaranteed is my right in this state to rent an apartment or keep a job without fear of eviction or termination simply because I’m a gay man.

Anyway, I love West Virginia. I was born here, and while I’ve moved around a bit, I’ve always lived within the state’s borders. I won’t necessarily stay forever, but I’m content right now. I have, though, questioned that statement a lot lately as I’ve watched legislation like HB 4012 progress.

Do I want to live in a state whose lawmakers seem intent on setting us back years in terms of civil rights, especially when we’re arguably already behind the times as it is? The easy solution is to leave, as so many have done and will continue to do. We’ve even reached a point where a new campaign is asking people to discuss #theStruggletoStay in West Virginia. I think that discussion is extremely important, but I’m sad we’ve arrived at a place where we need to have it.

I don’t blame people for leaving or wanting to leave. As I said, I’ve entertained those thoughts as well and am not so rooted here that I wouldn’t leave if the right opportunity presented itself. But I’d be running toward that opportunity, not merely running away from a problem. I think there is something to be said for staying put and helping to move the state toward a better future.

Plenty of people are doing that. From small businesses to large corporations and universities, the vocal opposition to HB 4012 swelled quickly. I watched eagerly as businesses all over the state showed their opposition through the All Kinds Are Welcome Here campaign, smiling when a coffee shop in my small hometown proudly displayed the campaign sticker on their storefront. I attended a “Books Not Bigotry” event in opposition to the bill at a local bookstore (one of several such events that have taken or are taking place surrounding this issue). And there are sitting legislators and up-and-coming candidates who are vocal in their push for equality in West Virginia.

So good things are happening. As I was leaving to attend the event at the bookstore, I learned that HB 4012 officially died in the Senate. A sign that all hope is not lost. A victory. A battle won. I hate to use the word “battle” here, but I will. A battleground does seem to accurately describe our state’s political arena. Or perhaps I should say “our nation” instead of “our state.” But don’t get me started on the circus that is the presidential race. That’s another post altogether.

The demise of HB 4012 is a bright spot on what has been a bleak canvas this session, and I’m very happy about it. And to end on a brighter note, I researched the voting results on HB 4012 when it first cleared the House of Delegates. One of my district’s Republican legislators also happens to be one of my health care providers. I was admittedly curious to know his vote on this bill that could’ve been quite damaging to me and so many people I care about. I’m not saying I’d switch doctors if his vote disagreed with my stance, but I did feel a little like Elaine Benes in the Seinfeld clip below.

He was one of few Republicans to vote against it. Gotta say, that made me smile.