The West Virginia House of Delegates passed HB 4012, the “West Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” Friday.
HB 4012 would allow discrimination against LGBT people and any person who does not fit into a person’s religious beliefs. The bill is going to send the message that the state of West Virginia is not open to all. Also, it would somewhat reinforce the stereotypes that people all over the country have about the Mountain State.
Those in favor of the bill have argued that it is our Constitutional right to have a free expression of religion and that this bill will just be a reaffirmation of that fact.
However, local businesses in Charleston have decided to show their opposition to the bill by posting stickers in their windows. The stickers display the state with the phrase “All Kinds are Welcome Here” and were designed by Jessica Kennedy.
Paul Greco, owner of Sam’s Uptown Café and the Boulevard Tavern in Charleston posted on his businesses Facebook page Friday his reasoning behind using the stickers.