By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog

CHARLESTON — Supporters of two anti-discrimination bills in the West Virginia Legislature have some new allies.

Fairness West Virginia held a press conference this morning promoting two bills that would amend the state Human Rights Act by adding sexual orientation to the list of protections.

“This is an issue of fundamental fairness, dignity and respect for all of West Virginia’s workers and citizens,” said Bradley Milam, Executive Director of Fairness West Virginia.

SB14 and HB2045 both would add sexual orientation to the Human Rights Act. Similar bills were introduced last year, focusing on Sam Hall, a former Massey Energy employee, who filed a harassment lawsuit against the company. Hall suffered homophobic slurs and threats during his time with the company.

Hall was joined at a rally last year by Senate President Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall) and Del. Barbara Fleischauer (D-Monongalia). A crowd of hundreds rallied in support of Hall, chanting “stand with Sam.” Still, both bills died last year in committee. But this year two labor groups, the AFL-CIO and the United Mine Workers of America, have signed on as supporters.

“The labor movement and the civil rights movement certainly have a clear understanding of the need to always be vigilant of…anti-discriminatory practices and ensure that every worker, every citizen, is judged by the content of their character and not by any other issues that might surface, whether it be race, creed, color, religion, or sexual preference,” said Larry Matheney, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO.

There are currently 29 states, including West Virginia, with no protections for sexual orientation. Amending this act would prevent housing and employment discrimination. Two years ago Fairness West Virginia releases a poll showing that 61 percent of West Virginians favor protecting gay and lesbian people from discrimination

Watch below as Bradley Milam, Executive Director of Fairness West Virginia, and Larry Metheney, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, talk about SB14 and HB2045: