First Statewide Gay Advocacy Organization Launches in West Virginia
Fairness West Virginia sees ending employment and housing discrimination as top priorities
(Charleston, WV, March 10, 2009) Today, West Virginians announced the formation of the new statewide civil rights organization committed to ensuring fair treatment for all gay and lesbian people in the state.
Fairness West Virginia's mission is to ensure gay people are treated safely and fairly in their homes, at work and in their communities.
"Discrimination in any form is unjust regardless of an individual's real or perceived sexual orientation," said Stephen Skinner, a member Fairness West Virginia's Board of Directors and an attorney.
The organization seeks to cooperate with both the public and private sector to enact policies that reflect West Virginia's values and to send a signal to the rest of the nation-especially to corporate America-that we are open for business for everyone.
A dozen citizens-both gay and straight-from diverse backgrounds including a doctor, a university professor, several businessmen and women, lawyers, among others, are the volunteers behind the creation of the new organization. They are Democrats, Republicans, and Independents who believe fairness transcends partisan politics.
"Our immediate call to action is to achieve the membership goal of 1,000 West Virginians for Fairness in Twenty Days," said board member Christopher Turman of Moorefield.
"We represent the diversity of Appalachia and our membership is open to everyone-gay and straight-who believes in fundamental fairness," said board member Donald Hall, a distinguished professor at West Virginia University, adding "I encourage the public to visit www.FairnessWV.org to learn more and to become involved."
