MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Human Rights Commission would have expanded authority under an ordinance that passed first reading.
In an unanimous decision by Morgantown City Council, an ordinance was passed which amends the city code regarding the Human Rights Commission. In the ordinance, expanded language was added on the anti-discrimination part of the city code, which included sexual orientation, gender identity and veteran status. Matt Miller, member of the Human Rights Commission, elaborated on what that languages entails in comparison to state law.
“The ordinance is set up to require us pretty much to refer everything we possibly can to the State Human Rights Commission,” Miller said. “So what that’s basically going to mean is that things the state doesn’t protect is all that we would be looking at, which basically would be sexual orientation, gender identity and veteran status which isn’t protected statewide,” he said.
Along with that, authority was expanded to the Human Rights Commission, allowing it to hold public hearings and levy monetary damages for discriminatory behavior. If discriminatory behavior is found during a public hearing, the commission could also issue a cease and deist order or make an order of compliance.
“We want it to be both fair and and enforceable so it’s not something that we’re riding in the blind. It’s based on language that has been applied elsewhere and that has been generally accepted as legal,” he said
When the ordinance was addressed by City Council, over two dozen people spoke in favor of the amendment, with over two dozen more supporters right behind them, with some hanging out right by the front door of City Hall. Morgantown City Council Member Barry Wendell feels this is a positive step for Morgantown.
“It sends a message that we’re really serious when we say we are an open and diverse city,” said Wendell.
Morgantown is the 11th city in West Virginia to adopt similar ordinances.