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Schneider: SCOTUS LGBTQ ruling could boost Fairness Act at statehouse

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The executive director of Fairness West Virginia believes Monday’s civil rights decision by the U.S. Supreme Court concerning the LGBTQ community could provide the momentum needed at the statehouse in Charleston to pass the Fairness Act.

Andrew Schneider

The Supreme Court said it is unlawful for employers to fire someone for their sexual orientation or gender identity. The Court said that would be in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

“This is a huge win for LGBTQ people who have fought for decades to achieve equal dignity and protection under the law,” Fairness West Virginia Executive Director Andrew Schneider.

He said the ruling is about real people.

“It’s about hardworking West Virginians just trying to earn a living to support themselves and the ones they love. It’s a fight to ensure we’re evaluated by employers based on our performance and the skills we bring to the job — nothing more, nothing less,” Schneider said.

Fairness West Virginia and other groups have been urging state lawmakers for years to add sexual orientation and gender identity to those who are protected from discrimination under the state’s Human Rights Act.

“While the employment protections have been extended to all 50 states, including West Virginia under this Supreme Court ruling, it’s still important that the state extend those very same protections under state law and provide those protections that our community currently lacks in housing and public spaces,” Schneider said. “LGBTQ people can still be discriminated against in housing and they can still be denied a place to live simply because of who they are and who they love.”

Schneider said combining growing bipartisan support for the Fairness Act with Monday’s decision could provide the momentum necessary for passage by the legislature.

“I think that lends credibility and credence to lawmakers that there is case law that justifies extending these protections to our community under the state law,” Schneider said.

The Fairness Act got a lot pre-discussion leading up to this year’s regular legislative session. Senate President Mitch Carmichael said he was against all forms of unfair discrimination but never backed the bill.

“I am evaluating the various options to be sure we adhere to a nondiscrimination policy in the state of West Virginia,” Carmichael said days before the session began.

Carmichael was defeated in last week’s primary election.





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