Monica Ballard Booth said she supports the bill because she wants to see equal protection for people of all faiths. People who spoke in support of the bill said they were concerned about the government imposing vaccination requirements against people's religious beliefs and restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic that limited in-person worship in states across the U.S. They’re focused on circumventing laws that require fair and equal treatment." "RFRAs today are promoted by organizations and ideologies and aren’t concerned about individual religious observances. “Unfortunately, people have seized upon a good idea and turn it a shield into a sword,” said Baumwell, who spoke in opposition to the bill. The laws are similar to the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, signed in 1993 by President Bill Clinton, which allows federal regulations that interfere with religious beliefs to be challenged.Įli Baumwell, advocacy director and the Interim executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia, said the 1993 federal law was designed to designed to protect people, especially religious minorities, from laws that affected their ability to engage in personal practices of their faith. “This bill will do nothing but spread hate and violence across our state."Īt least 23 other states have religious freedom restoration acts. “I should not be afraid of not being served at a restaurant because I have a different relationship than you do,” she told lawmakers.
WEST VIRGINIA NEWS HEADLINES FULL
The bill, which passed the House Judiciary Committee earlier this week and is now before the full House of Delegates, would require a government entity to have a compelling reason to burden someone’s constitutional right to freedom of religion and to meet its goals in the least restrictive way possible.īut Catherine Jones, a gay woman, said the bill would do nothing but “legalize discrimination against already marginalized communities.” She said she fears the bill could allow businesses to challenge city ordinances prohibiting discrimination in housing or employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity. “Exercising your religion does not mean discriminating or condemning people because they do not have same beliefs as you,” said Jessica Eplin, who said she is worried about how the proposed law could affect her as an atheist and her child, who is transgender. Others who spoke during a public hearing at the state Capitol Friday said they are worried the proposal advancing in the Legislature will be used as a tool to discriminate against LGBTQ people and other marginalized groups. (AP) - Some people said West Virginia needs a law to codify the right of residents to challenge government regulations that interfere with their religious beliefs because of growing threats to their constitutional freedoms.
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