Now a large group of legislators has filed a resolution, HR 99, to call for an amendment to the United States constitution stating:
"Only a union between one man and one woman may be a valid marriage in the United States. The states and their political subdivisions may not create a legal status for same-sex relationships to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities or effects of marriage"
Twenty-eight state delegates signed on to this; two are among the five delegates from Morgantown.
I would note that both the City of Morgantown and West Virginia University, represented by these people, have non-discrimination ordinances which include LGBT people. The Morgantown City Council voted to support same-gender marriage last year.
Here are the letters I wrote to those two. Both are Republicans.
To Cindy Frich:
I am your constituent and I am in a same-gender marriage conducted in California in 2008 by clergy of my religious denomination, and affirmed by the courts as valid in West Virginia. You have cosponsored HR 99, which, as you know, calls for a United States constitutional amendment prohibiting any legal same-sex relationships. In addition to being a colossal waste of time, as this will clearly go nowhere, it is a narrow-minded and hateful resolution. If you want to be seen that way, that's up to you. I will do everything in my power to see that you are not re-elected.
You promised to fix roads and provide jobs. All you've done in this session is introduce bills to allow every highly disturbed, undiagnosed individual in the state to carry a gun anywhere they want without a permit. You have set this state back fifty years in this session alone. I am disgusted.
Barry Wendell
To Joe Statler:
I am your constituent and I am half of a same-gender marriage conducted legally and by clergy in my religious denomination in California in 2008. Our marriage has been confirmed as legal in West Virginia by Federal courts. You have cosponsored a resolution to the US Congress for a constitutional convention to ban any legal recognition of same-gender relationships. In addition to being a colossal waste of time, as this will clearly go nowhere, it makes you look like a bigot. If that's how you want to be perceived, then so be it. I will work to make sure you are not reelected.
Morgantown and WVU are both tolerant and gay-friendly places. This is one of the few counties in the state that has had any economic growth in the last twenty years. People like you are working to give this place the kind of "backward" image that plagues most of West Virginia.
I also saw the letter in today's Dominion Post criticizing you for siding with mine owners to overturn safety regulations for miners. If you succeed in that, then you are potentially a murderer as well as a bigot.
Barry Wendell
At this point, the resolution is in the House Judiciary Committee. The session ends soon; it may not get out of committee.
I don't expect to hear back from these delegates.
Update: I did hear back from Joe Statler by e-mail:
"Thank you sir I appreciate your comments believe me sir I do not judge people on their life styles and I do make mistakes"
Just like that - no punctuation.
Update: I did hear back from Joe Statler by e-mail:
"Thank you sir I appreciate your comments believe me sir I do not judge people on their life styles and I do make mistakes"
Just like that - no punctuation.
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