Heathers Back!

 

Okay, so I thought I was done writing for a while.  I got a full-time job and a part-time business I’m trying to turn into a full-time business, and lots of family drama to boot, so let’s just say I really did not think I would be back.

 

Nevertheless, my typing fingers have been itching lately, so I thought <i>why not?</i>  And this was a good time to do this.  HB 4012 known as the West Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act or RFRA is due to be voted on soon.  Basically,  it gives people a license to discriminate if they don’t like something about you.  For example, if you are Muslim, someone could refuse to provide medical treatment on grounds of it violating their religious beliefs.  If you’re gay, a cop could refuse to work at a gay pride parade to protect you. A pastor in Virginia helped kidnap a child from a legal guardian without fear of persecution.

 

I was supposed to go to Lobby Day for Fairness West Virginia, but I didn’t due to the snow out in our area, but I was disappointed I was not able to be there in person. I’m not sure it would have made a difference though, frankly. I spoke to my delegate from Roane County and it was not an easy conversation.

 

“I don’t really know what’s in the bill,” he admitted. “But I have to tell you that 97 percent of the emails and calls I am getting are for it. I plan to vote for it.”

 

I asked him how he could vote for a bill when he doesn’t know what it is designed to do?

 

“We have lawyers that put all the wording in the bills for us,” said Atkinson.  He swore it was necessary for the protection of religious freedom and I explained we already have religious freedom in this country.  He promised he would read it later tonight between his various engagements.

 

We hung up amicably, and that was that. So why didn’t I go ballistic on him? Why didn’t I go down to his office at the capital and read him the riot act?  I’m sure a lot of you, if you have been life-long West Virginians understand why and it’s only something I learned since coming here.  Because were I to out Shawn and myself, were I to go as public as possible (not that this is private), we have zero chance of expanding our business in Roane County, and possibly a larger part of West Virginia.

 

A lot of schools teach about Bull Conner during the Civil Rights Jim Crow era in Birmingham, Alabama—what with the water hoses spraying school children and what not.  What you may not know is that all of the people sprayed were children, not working adults.  Not all of us can afford to be a Cynthia Deville when you have someone besides yourself relying on your income, even if we dearly wish we could. 

 

What I do hope is after our business blooms, we will make a point to visit people in the area, get to know them and talk to them face to face about these issues on a personal level.  I don’t relish the thought; it will take a long time and some old bastards are rather set in their ways, but then again, I didn’t think we would get the right to marry this quick either. 

 

And I hope you, dear reader, will consider what you can do to open up closed minds.  We are completely out to friends, family and work….clients and locals…not so much.  But eventually we will get there. Do what you can where you can.  Be kind.  Show people love and compassion.  I guarantee it will come back to you.

 

Heather Elmore