If you've been anywhere near the news in West Virginia this past week, you've probably seen the intense evil and bigotry pouring out of the mouth of Delegate Eric Porterfield of Mercer County. From using homophobic slurs as he implored colleagues in a House committee to pass an amendment stripping civil rights from the LGBTQ community in cities across the state, to saying that the LGBTQ community was the new KKK, to making statements last night in a news interview that seemed to imply he would drown his children if they were gay.

This kind of evil is obvious, heinous, and cannot be tolerated. What isn't talked about though is how many fellow Delegates in the House are quietly supporting his attitude and beliefs.

The amendment to end non-discrimination in WV failed 10-12. That means there were nine more Porterfields ready to crush the right of people to not be evicted or fired based on who they love. Their names are:

Dean Jeffries-Kanawha (who introduced the amendment)
Gary Howell-Mineral
Jeffrey Pack-Raleigh
Tom Azinger-Wood
Tom Bibby-Berkeley
Scott Cadle-Mason
John Hott-Grant
Carl "Robbie" Martin-Upshur
Chris Phillips-Barbour

The hate runs deep in Charleston right now, and even if most delegates won't be as open about their views as Eric Porterfield, many of them march in lockstep in supporting him. Just a day later, 58 members of the House sided with Porterfield and voted down bringing a non-discrimination ordinance to the floor. Many members of the House are speaking as if they don't believe in this bigotry on camera, while at the same time giving it full support in their votes!

                       TAKE ACTION NOW!

Bigotry is alive and well at the Capitol, and nothing is going to change until we force it to change!

There are two actions you can take today to stand up against Hate in our state!

The first one is quick and easy. SB 391 is pending in Senate Judiciary, but is very close to moving. Call Senate President Carmichael’s office (304 357-7801) and Senate Majority Leader Tom Takubo’s office (304 357-7990) TODAY. Tell them to put our LGBTQ nondiscrimination bill (SB 391) on the Judiciary Committee agenda now!

The next is a long list, but an important one, and we just have to move a few of these people. There were 40 Delegates who just stood against hate, and voted to bring Non-Discrimination to the floor and protect our people. That means we just need 11 more to bring out one of the FOUR NDO's pending in the House and pass it.

If less than ONE in FIVE of the remaining Delegates will step up, be a decent human being, and stand against hatred then this will pass.

IF YOUR LEGISLATOR IS ON THIS LIST, CALL THEM TODAY. If they're not, call someone who is, especially Speaker Hanshaw and Judiciary call John Shott. Tell them to stand up to this evil with their votes instead of their words! Tell them to bring Non-Discrimination to the floor and pass it now.

If they won't do this, they're just a quieter Porterfield.

Please reach out and contact me if you'd like to be involved further, or have any questions!

- Justin Raines raines@ourfuturewv.org