ACLU of West Virginia Praises Huntington City Council For Defeating Unnecessary and Discriminatory Ordinance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2004
Contact: Andrew Schneider,
(304) 345-9246
Statement by ACLU-WV Executive Director Andrew Schneider
The Huntington City Council stood up for all its citizens by voting down an ordinance that would have written discrimination into the city code and infringed upon the religious freedom of the clergy. The ordinance proposed by Councilman Tom McCallister would define marriage as between a man and a woman and would subject anyone who performs a same-gender marriage including members of the clergy to criminal penalties. This ordinance was unnecessary because the regulation of marriage is a state function, not a municipal one. Furthermore, the state has already made it clear that it believes marriage is a special right reserved exclusively for heterosexual couples. Gays and lesbians are our family members, neighbors, co-workers, our friends and fellow taxpayers. Gay people serve as our firefighters, police, doctors and soldiers. Today, the City Council sent a resounding no to those who would try to divide us by religion and sexual orientation.