The West Virginia House of Delegates, on Feb. 14, 2024, approved legislation that opponents are calling a fake women’s bill of rights that targets the transgender community for discrimination.
According to the text of the legislation, the purpose of House Bill 5243 is to bring clarity, certainty, and uniformity to the state's laws regarding sex discrimination, gender equality, and benefits or services specifically provided to males and females, according to the text of the bill. As a statutory construction bill, definitions set forth in the legislation would be applied across West Virginia state code.
The bill was approved 87-12 in the House, with one delegate absent or not voting, and now heads to the Senate.