Many West Virginia residents are signing on to support the proposed Employment and Housing Nondiscrimination Act, a measure the Legislature will be asked to approve during the 2013 Regular Legislative Session.
It would update an existing law by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the Human Rights Act that already includes race, creed, disability and sex.
That means discrimination based on sexual orientation would be against the law when it comes to employment, housing and public accommodations.
Frank Hartman with Fairness West Virginia says it’s important. “If we, as a society, want to make sure that people are protected and treated equally, we have to make sure that happens,” he said.
It’s a proposal that has come up at the State House a number of times over the past several years. This year it’s been tweaked, though, to include some exemptions.
“The law would not apply, as it relates to sexual orientation, to churches or their affiliated corporations,” Hartman said. It also leaves out small businesses in West Virginia, defined as businesses with 12 or fewer employees.
Those with Fairness West Virginia call it a “common sense” update and they’re working to gather signatures for a statewide petition supporting the Employment and Housing Nondiscrimination Act.
That legislation has not yet been introduced at the State House. This year’s Regular Legislative Session runs through April 13th.