1. United States
2. W.V.
3. Letter

West Virginia’s leadership is wasting time on divisive, performative bills instead of addressing real issues that impact people’s daily lives. Instead of tackling economic growth, healthcare access, education, and infrastructure, lawmakers are focused on restricting LGBTQ+ rights, censoring education, and policing bathrooms. Among the most concerning bills: • SB 456 & HB 2006 define “male” and “female” by biological sex at birth, stripping transgender individuals of basic rights and dignity. • SB 207 blocks public funding for drag performances and bans minors from attending, targeting LGBTQ+ expression. • SB 279 prohibits gender-affirming healthcare for minors, denying them medically supported treatments. • SB 278 broadens obscenity laws in schools, a veiled attack on transgender and non-binary students. • SB 276 criminalizes drag performances in front of minors, further stigmatizing LGBTQ+ communities. • HB 2372 (“Parents’ Bill of Rights”) allows parents to opt children out of lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity, threatening comprehensive education. • HB 2526 enforces bathroom restrictions based on biological sex, creating hostile school environments for transgender students. • HB 2574 & SB 474 undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in higher education and state agencies, rolling back decades of progress. West Virginians need jobs, healthcare, and functional schools—not bathroom bans and attacks on LGBTQ+ people. This legislature seems more interested in stoking fear and division than solving real problems. • Economic Development: West Virginia struggles to attract businesses that offer livable wages. Instead of wasting time on culture wars, legislators should focus on job growth and economic stability. • Healthcare Access: Rural healthcare remains inaccessible for many, yet lawmakers prioritize restricting gender-affirming care rather than expanding medical services. • Education: Instead of banning books and censoring curricula, lawmakers should be improving public schools and ensuring all students are prepared for the future. • Infrastructure: Our roads, bridges, and public services are failing, yet legislators are preoccupied with criminalizing drag shows instead of fixing what’s broken. West Virginia deserves leaders who address real issues, not culture war distractions. It’s time to focus on policies that make life better for all residents—not just appease political donors and extremist groups.