Tag: Gay Marriage

Revisiting the Grand Palace

Americans’ attitudes toward gay relationships have changed dramatically in a short time. Host Trey Kay returns to his home state of West Virginia to see how this change is playing out in a state where 53 percent of residents believe the Bible is the literal word of God.

From West Virginia Public Broadcasting, this is “Us & Them” the podcast where we tell stories from America’s cultural divides.

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Fairness Focused on Next Steps in Fight for Equality

The LGBT advocacy organization Fairness West Virginia held their annual conference in Charleston Saturday and this year, the group had plenty to celebrate. 

After saying he would no longer fight an appeal to the state’s gay marriage ban, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s decision essentially made the practice legal in the state and on Oct. 9, county clerks began issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples across the state.

Fairness Executive Director Andrew Schneider said Saturday that’s certainly something to celebrate, but the fight isn’t yet over. Now, the organization is looking on to its next legislative battles. 

The results of the mid-term elections were something many LGBT advocates expressed dismay about, but Schneider said the idea that his organization can’t work with the new Republican leadership is a myth.

“We were more accustomed to working with Democrats, but we have always worked with Republicans,” Schneider said. “With that said, we need to do a lot more outreach to Republicans now that they’re in power.”

Schneider said he thinks it’s an easy sell. Republicans tend to be seen as business friendly, Schneider said, and bills that protect equality are attractive to businesses.

“This makes perfect economic sense,” Schneider said. “You build a society that is just and inclusive and businesses will won’t to relocate here because they can attract the best and brightest employees who want to live in a place that’s inclusive for everyone.”

Even so, Schneider recognizes his organization had trouble getting a bill passed to protect LGBT people both in housing and the workplace even when the Democrats controlled both houses at the state level.

This year, he said, he plans to work with cities to pass ordinances on the local level like Charleston, Huntington and Morgantown have.

“We’re going to build them from the ground up trying to get nondiscrimination ordinances passed in all corners of the state, in all communities and build the grassroots to the point where the state legislature can no longer ignore,” he said.

Those protections become even more necessary with marriage equality according to Schneider as homosexual couples begin to do the things heterosexual couples do, like bringing husbands or wives to company parties. 

Same Sex Couples Are Now Covered by PEIA

A spokeswoman for the Department of Administration confirmed Thursday that married, same sex couples in West Virginia are now able to apply for coverage under the state’s Public Employee Insurance Agency.

The change comes after Attorney General Patrick Morrisey decided last week to no longer defend the state’s gay marriage ban in federal court. Governor Tomblin soon after released a statement directing state agencies to “take appropriate action” to make the practice legal in West Virginia, including the reprinting of marriage license applications.

Diane Holley-Brown, communications director for the Department of Administration, said same sex spouses were able to enroll in the program immediately after the governor’s announcement was made, but said the enrollment system is not able to track same sex marriages specifically. 

Outside of an open enrollment period, state employees can only buy coverage in the program when they experience what’s referred to by the industry as a “qualifying event.” That includes things like marriage, divorce, or a birth in the family.

Holley-Brown said the governor’s decision to essentially change the definition of marriage then made those couples immediately eligible to purchase an insurance plan under PEIA.

Candidates on the Attack: The Race for the 2nd Congressional District

The race in the 2nd Congressional District has gotten more and more ugly over the past few weeks as candidates dig in for the final push before Election Day. Democratic candidate Nick Casey talks about his view of the partisan politics in Washington and how he thinks he can make a change, as well as discusses the major issues facing the district.

Dr. Scott Crichlow of West Virginia University discusses how a non-decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, in less than a week, caused West Virginia to go from a state defining marriage as between a man and a woman to one that is issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples.

In a reporter roundtable, we recap the U.S. Senate debate between Shelley Moore Capito and Natalie Tennant and look forward to a debate in the 3rd Congressional District pitting Congressman Nick Rahall against state Sen. Evan Jenkins.

Meet the First Gay Couples to Get Marriage Licenses In West Virginia

Just a few hours after Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced he would no longer fight a challenge to West Virginia’s gay marriage ban in court and Governor Tomblin directed state agencies to begin taking steps toward allowing the practice, Chris Bostic and David Epp of Charleston were the first couple to apply for a marriage license in Kanawha County.

Moments before, Justin Murdock and William Glavaris, as well as Casie McGee and Sarah Adkins received their licenses to marry in Cabell County.

Counties across West Virginia are issuing the licenses after orders from the state saying not to turn couples away.

Hear more from assistant news director and statehouse reporter Ashton Marra from an extended newscast on Thursday, October 9th:

Gov. Tomblin, Attorney General Issue Statements on Same-Sex Marriage in West Virginia

 
  Update:   The state Department of Health and Human Resources says it expects that county clerks across the state will be able to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples by Tuesday, October 14 at the latest.

  Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today issued the following statement regarding same-sex marriage in West Virginia.
 

"As the attorney general stated today, recent rulings by several federal courts, combined with the refusal of the U.S. Supreme Court to hear this issue, make it clear that laws banning same-sex marriage have been declared unconstitutional. I do not plan to take any actions that would seek to overturn the courts' decisions. West Virginia will uphold the law according to these rulings, and I have directed state agencies to take appropriate action to make that possible.   "Our state is known for its kindness and hospitality to residents and visitors alike. I encourage all West Virginians – regardless of their personal beliefs – to uphold our statewide tradition of treating one another with dignity and respect."

Tomblin’s statement follows the decision from Attorney General Patrick Morrisey to end attempts to defend the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Morrisey’s statement is as follows:

“On Oct. 6, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court decided it would not take up the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to set aside Virginia’s law regarding same-sex marriage. By refusing to consider the appeal, the Supreme Court has caused the Appeals Court's decision to become final and binding on West Virginia.  While we disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Fourth Circuit’s opinion to stand and believe it improperly displaces state and local decision-making, we will respect it.      “As the state’s Attorney General, it is my duty to defend state laws that have been passed by the state Legislature and are consistent with the Constitution. We have discharged this duty faithfully. In the upcoming days, we will now seek to bring to a close the pending litigation over West Virginia’s marriage laws, consistent with the Fourth Circuit’s now-binding decision.   “As we have repeatedly indicated in our court filings, however, others not involved in the litigation will be necessary to actually bring the State into compliance with the Fourth Circuit’s decision.  Neither the Attorney General nor the two named county clerks have the power to change uniform state marriage forms and procedures.  Only the State Registrar may alter state marriage forms, and the Secretary of State’s Office has authority over marriage celebrants and their ability to solemnize marriages.  While we will take steps to seek to end the litigation, the conclusion of the lawsuit cannot and will not alone effectuate the Fourth Circuit’s mandate.” 

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