MORGANTOWN, W.Va (WDTV) – Ash Orr, the President of Morgantown Pride, a non-profit organization that provides social and educational resources for the LGBTQ+ community in Monongalia County, is speaking out about the latest bill that they say is another blow to LGBTQ+ individuals in the state.
Senate Bill 579 looks to prohibit municipalities from establishing non-discrimination ordinances that include protected classes in addition to what is designated in state statute.
On Monday, the Senate voted for Senate Bill 579 in a 25-8 vote, sending it to the House of Delegates.
Morgantown is one of 20 cities across the state that has a non-discrimination ordinance in place.
Orr says that losing the protection that the ordinance provides impacts more than just LGBTQ+ people.
“Losing access and losing that protection to the NDO is going to impact everyone,” exclaimed Orr. “It’s not just going to impact LGBTQ+ communities – while we are going to be, you know, at a much higher risk of being impacted – this is going to impact everyone person who lives within city limits who has an NDO in place.”
Non-discrimination ordinances protect those living with a disability, in addition to prohibiting discrimination based on race, religion, and sex.
Orr says that decisions made during the legislative session thus far are causing them and their spouse to pack up and leave.
“My spouse and I have been packing up our home. We are leaving West Virginia. This is my home; I am born and raised. I have been in West Virginia for over three decades. My family is here, my friends are here, but due to escalating anti-trans violence and rhetoric, it’s not safe for us to stay here.”
Orr says that many have reached out to Morgantown Pride in search of resources to help them leave the state as well.
Governor Patrick Morrisey has been vocal about keeping people in the state and bringing more jobs to the region.
In response to Morrisey, Orr stated “You cannot sit here and say you want to open up a state, to keep people here, to bring in more people, when data is showing that our state in hemorrhaging population left and right.”
Senate Bill 579 can be viewed in its entirety HERE.
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