Transgender Rights Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

‘The Women’s Bill Of Rights’ And PFAS Contamination On This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, we explore a piece of legislation moving through the statehouse called the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” and The Allegheny Front brings us a report on the long-term effects of PFAS contamination.

On this West Virginia Morning, the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” or House Bill 5243, would put certain definitions of “man” and “woman” into code and determine who can use single-sex spaces.

Briana Heaney sat down with Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, and Molly Kennedy, a community outreach director at the American Civil Liberties Union, to discuss the bill. West Virginia Public Broadcasting tried several times to get one of the Republican sponsors of the bill to come on the show and discuss it, but they all declined.

Also, in this show, we have a new story from The Allegheny Front – a public radio program that reports on environmental issues in the region. Their latest story is about the long-term effects of PFAS contamination.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.

Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

A Deep Dive Into The ‘Women’s Bill Of Rights’

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” or House Bill 5243, would put certain definitions of “man” and “woman” into code and determine who can use single-sex spaces like restrooms and locker rooms. Democrats call it an “anti-trans” bill. We talk with lawmakers and stakeholders to get perspective.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” or House Bill 5243, would put certain definitions of “man” and “woman” into code and determine who can use single-sex spaces like restrooms and locker rooms. Democrats call it an “anti-trans” bill. Randy Yohe spoke with the bill’s lead sponsor, Del. Kathie Hess-Crouse, R-Putnam, asking if her bill was fair to all.

Also, a public hearing was held on the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” where 20 speakers spoke in opposition to the bill and seven in support. As the bill advanced through the House, it gained an amendment to remove an exception in criminal code for marital rape. Briana Heaney sat down with Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, and Molly Kennedy, a community outreach director at the American Civil Liberties Union, to discuss the bill. West Virginia Public Broadcasting tried several times to get one of the Republican sponsors of the bill to come on the show and discuss it, but they all declined.

In the House, one resolution and two bills on third reading dealt with helping preserve West Virginia history, increasing help for the coalfields economy and alcohol at community festivals.

In the Senate, the chamber approve seven bills. Six of those head to the House for consideration and one heads to the governor’s desk. The bills dealt with issues on landowner liability, retirement plans and burglary. The bill headed to the governor would streamline West Virginia’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics scholarship programs. The Senate advanced more than 10 other bills.

In committees, the Education committees of both chambers started the week off by advancing bills to improve management of local school districts. Chris Schulz has more.

Finally, it was E-Day at the Capitol, where environmental organizations gathered to speak to lawmakers. Solar power and community air monitoring were the main topics of discussion. Curtis Tate has this story.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Air Monitoring, Trans Rights And Babydog, This West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, we are back with more coverage of the West Virginia Legislature. Plus, we’ll discuss a failed Senate bill that aimed to increase border security, a debt owed by one of Gov. Jim Justice’s companies, and ongoing medical difficulties facing the governor’s bulldog, Babydog.

On this West Virginia Week, we are back with more coverage of the West Virginia Legislature, where bills regarding school discipline, gender identity and air monitoring continue to spark debate. We’ll revisit conversations with some of the lawmakers helming these bills.

Plus, we’ll discuss a failed Senate bill that aimed to increase border security, a debt owed by one of Gov. Jim Justice’s companies, and ongoing medical difficulties facing the governor’s bulldog, Babydog.

Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

A Conversation On Tax Revenues From Coal, Natural Gas

On this episode of The Legislature Today, higher demand for coal and natural gas, as well as higher prices, produced a severance tax windfall for the state over the past few years. But prices have fallen, and with it, tax revenues. To get a better idea of where things stand, Curtis Tate spoke with Kelly Allen, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, higher demand for coal and natural gas, as well as higher prices, produced a severance tax windfall for the state over the past few years. But prices have fallen, and with it, tax revenues.

To get a better idea of where things stand, Curtis Tate spoke with Kelly Allen, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy.

In the House, among the bills on third reading Thursday included a proposal to allow schools to hire trained security guards. The bill led to a social debate over the issue of training in systemic racism. Randy Yohe has more.

In the Senate, the chamber advanced 13 bills. They sent Senate Bill 596 to committee. That bill is the same as House Bill 5045, which would give the EPA assurances that carbon capture and storage will not pollute groundwater. The House version was amended to be fused with the Senate bill.

Also, House Democrats held a press conference to highlight their priorities going forward. Randy Yohe has that report.

Finally, the House of Delegates held a public hearing on a bill that would restrict transgender West Virginians access to bathrooms, changing rooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Drug Test Strips, Taxes, Natural Hair And Transgender Rights, This West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, we continue our coverage of the West Virginia Legislative session with discussions from lawmakers and community stakeholders. We’ll listen back to a few of our conversations with our guests on our program The Legislature Today as they discuss taxes, natural hair and trans rights.

On this West Virginia Week, we continue our coverage of the West Virginia Legislative session with discussions from lawmakers and community stakeholders. We’ll listen back to a few of our conversations with our guests on our program The Legislature Today as they discuss taxes, natural hair and trans rights.

We also hear about drug testing strips, new potato chips and the state’s broadband future.

Chris Schulz is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

Justice Promotes Bill To Define ‘Woman’ In State Code

A piece of legislation introduced on Jan. 26, 2024, aims to define sex-based terms used in state law.

In a Monday press conference, Gov. Jim Justice promoted House Bill 5243 alongside representatives from the Independent Women’s Law Center and Independent Women’s Voice.

The bill is called the “West Virginia Women’s Bill of Rights” or “The West Virginia Act to Define Sex-Based Terms Used in State Law, Help Protect Single Sex Spaces, and Ensure the Accuracy of Public Data Collection.”

“What we’re basically saying is, that women are women, and women are really important,” Justice said.

Riley Gaines is an ambassador for Independent Women’s Voice. She described her experience swimming on a team with a transgender female as “violating and betrayal.”

“We as female athletes, female swimmers, we watched on the side of the pool as this mediocre male swam to a national title beating up the most impressive and accomplished female swimmers this nation and world really has ever seen including Olympians, American record holders,” Gaines said.

May Mailman is the director of the Independent Women’s Law Center. She said allowing for interpretation of the word “woman” in the law is offensive.

“Judges, bureaucrats, sports bodies and other elites seemed not to know that women existed at all, they equated us to a state of mind,” Mailman said. “Identification replaced the biology, biological reality that we have been living our entire lives.”

Isabella Cortez is the Gender Policy Manager for Fairness West Virginia, a statewide civil rights advocacy organization dedicated to fair treatment and civil rights for LGBTQ+ West Virginians.

“It’s offensive to introduce a bill called the Women’s Bill of Rights when the bill does nothing to support women,” Cortez said. “It doesn’t give women any new rights, and it doesn’t do anything to protect the rights that women already have.”

Cortez said out-of-state lobbyists drafted the bill.

“Our lawmakers should not trust this group, the so-called Independent Women’s Voice, because there’s nothing independent about what they do,” Cortez said. “They take money from the Koch brothers and they use that dark money to oppose the Equal Rights Amendment, oppose the Paycheck Fairness Act, and also downplay the overturning of Roe v. Wade.”

Cortez said the bill aims to ban transgender people from using the bathroom that aligns with their identity in public spaces.

“There is simply no evidence that allowing transgender people to use restrooms that align with their gender identity increases, you know, risks, or danger or poses any safety risks,” Cortez said.

Cortez said she and Fairness West Virginia want transgender West Virginians to know that they will not stop fighting for them.

“We know things are scary right now, but you are seen you are loved,” Cortez said. “We will do everything that we can to keep you safe and to keep you protected in this state.”

House Bill 5243 is being considered by the House Judiciary Committee.