Tag Archives: West Virginia

West Virginia’s MetroNews reports: In a 3-2 opinion issued Tuesday, the state Supreme Court has upheld a lower court decision that dismissed hate crime charges against former Marshall University football player Steward Butler. In arguments before the Court last month, Cabell County Assistant Prosecutor Lauren Plymale said Cabell County Circuit Judge Paul Farrell was wrong when he dismissed the charges …

From the Associated Press: A West Virginia Republican lawmaker said Sunday his comments made on Twitter calling for Democrat Hillary Clinton’s public execution weren’t meant to be taken literally. House of Delegates member Mike Folk said that his tweet Friday over Clinton’s use of a private email system while she served as secretary of state was “hyperbole.” In the tweet, …

Bernie Sanders has been declared the winner of the West Virginia primary. At this writing it appears that he will take 14 of the 24 Democratic delegates up for grabs. According to exit polls, nearly half of Sanders’ supporters say they will vote for Trump in the general election should he not win the Democratic election. Just in from the …

Rejected by a vote of 27-7. Woo and hoo. The HRC reacts: “For one day at least, West Virginia is spared from legislation that would increase the likelihood of unacceptable discrimination and a flood of expensive legal challenges,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “Unfortunately, despite today’s events, more work lies ahead. LGBT West Virginians still remain at risk for …

Some promising news out of West Virginia last night: The state Senate has put the brakes on the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration bill (HB4012), making significant language changes that bill supporters say guts the measure. The Senate, on a 23-11 vote Tuesday evening, approved an amendment by Sens. Corey Palumbo (D-Kanawha) and Ron Stollings (D-Boone) that said the RFRA law could …

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports: A Republican lawmaker introduced a resolution on Saturday to amend the state Constitution to prevent cities and towns from enacting nondiscrimination ordinances that extend protections to the LGBT community. Sen. Craig Blair, the Majority Whip, introduced Senate Joint Resolution 13, which would prohibit a city or town from adopting any ordinance that creates a protected classification …

After hours of fiery and literally fist-shaking testimony in the name of White Jesus, West Virginia’s House of Delegates has voted 72-26 to pass a bill legalizing discrimination against LGBT citizens on the basis “sincerely held religious belief.” It appears that at least eight Democrats crossed party lines to vote with the GOP majority. The bill now moves to the …

The West Virginia House of Delegates has just begun its third and final reading of HB 4012, which would allow Christians to discriminate against LGBT citizens on the grounds of “religious liberty.” A live video stream is here. Watch below with us.

West Virginia’s Gilmer County Clerk Jean Butcher [inset above] says she agrees with her deputy clerk, whom a lesbian couple claims railed at them about God and called them an “abomination” when they applied for a marriage license. The Charleston Gazette reports: Samantha Brookover stood crying in the Gilmer County courthouse last week, humiliated on what was meant to be …

West Virginia state Sen. Robert Karnes has introduced a “religious freedom” bill that is so broad that even sites that regularly report on this nonsense have dropped jaws. Michael Stone writes: Sharia for Jesus: West Virginia bill would give Christians a “get out of jail free” card. A sweeping religious freedom bill promoted by Republicans in West Virginia would allow …

Via Yahoo News: Hours after his arrest for allegedly beating two gay men who kissed in the street, Marshall running back Steward Butler has been dismissed from the program. Butler turned himself to police Wednesday morning in connection with the April 5 incident and school athletic director Mike Hamrick and head coach Doc Holliday announced his dismissal just before 3:30 …

Via USA Today: Marshall running back Steward Butler was arrested early Wednesday on battery charges that he beat a same-sex couple. According to the Huntington Police department, the incident occurred on April 5th in downtown Huntington, when the two male victims exchanged a kiss on the street. Butler was a passenger in a vehicle that was driving by and stopped. …

The attorneys general of fifteen states have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in which they predictably argue that a ruling in favor of same-sex marriage will “irretrievably” destroy their right to self-government. From the brief:  The Constitution takes no sides on same-sex marriage, and therefore leaves the issue up to the free deliberations of state citizens. The …

Via the Associated Press: Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael says there’s “no way” the Senate will consider a proposal to nullify local ordinances that protect gay and transgender people from housing and employment discrimination. The Jackson County Republican made the remarks Thursday to the AP. The West Virginia Intrastate Commerce Improvement Act would prohibit any local nondiscrimination ordinances stricter than state …

Del. Karen Arvon’s bill to ban LGBT rights across West Virginia just advanced out of its initial committee hearing.

West Virginia state Rep. Karen Arvon (R-Duh) has introduced a bill that is pretty much identical to the Arkansas law that forbids all municipalities from enacting LGBT rights ordinances.  A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article relating to creating the West Virginia Intrastate Commerce Improvement Act; and …

Clip recap: “Over the last week, states have been winning the freedom to marry at such a fast pace that it’s hard to keep up. AFER has conclusively won its marriage case. Cases in four other states have ended in victory. The Ninth Circuit has expanded marriage in several more states. It’s been a pretty terrible week for the National …

“Our heavenly Father didn’t take homosexuality lightly in the Bible’s account of Sodom & Gomorrh, nor did He give the Isralites a pass when they choose pagan ways over His Commandments. America should brace herself as we see the mighty hand of God give us our just due. (Jud 1:7-10 & Rom 1:21-32). Christians’ civil rights will be trounced by …

Chris Bostic and David Epp. First couple to fill out a marriage certificate in Kanawha Co. #wsaz pic.twitter.com/QUssJz7qAm — Shannon Houser (@ShannonWSAZNews) October 9, 2014 Kanawha County is the most populous in West Virginia and is home to the state capital of Charleston.

West Virginia just went dark blue and Nevada should join the party this afternoon. Zoom, zoomity, zoom!