The following information concerning state-wide and area news, events, and activities is updated at the beginning of each calendar month. Please check with the originating organization to check on possible cancellations or changes that might have occurred since they were originally posted here. See Local News for non-CCSJ events and activities organized and/or occurring in the Morgantown area. See WVU News for Social and Environmental Justice related activties and events organized or occurring at West Virginia University.
NOW is focusing on encouraging people to register and vote this year and also supporting the equal rights amendment and abortion. For more information, go to their Facebook page or email Amanda Ray, the state NOW president, at amandajray@yahoo.com.
See more about ACLU West Virginia here or Facebook. Email them at mail@acluwv.org.
Go here to get links to the legislative toolkit, which includes information on the ACLU’s legislative priorities, which are protecting First Amendment values, defending democracy, dismantling West Virginia’s deadly and overcrowded jails, defending LGBTQ+ rights, and fighting for immigrants’ rights. The capitol tracker icon will take you to the track bills link here. There are also calls to action for specific issues on this site.
Go here to get links to the legislative toolkit, which includes information on the ACLU’s legislative priorities, which are protecting First Amendment values, defending democracy, dismantling West Virginia’s deadly and overcrowded jails, defending LGBTQ+ rights, and fighting for immigrants’ rights. The capitol tracker icon will take you to the track bills link here. There are also calls to action for specific issues on this site.
The ACLU’s bill tracking system is here. There is a link to get email updates.
“Please join us at noon on April 14 at West Virginia State University in Charleston for the 2024 Bill of Rights Brunch. We'll be honoring Neema Avashia, advocate and author of "Another Appalachia: Coming up Queer and Indian in a Mountain Place." And we'll be presenting an award to one of our longest-serving board members, Chuck Smith. At the brunch, we'll reflect on our wins, commiserate over our defeats and share our plans for defending civil liberties in West Virginia.
“Our brunch is being catered by 1010 Bridge Road with musical entertainment by Megan Bee. Artists, businesses and others have donated dozens of amazing items to our silent auction. We can’t wait to see you there!”
Secure your tickets or become a sponsor here action.aclu.org/event/bill-rights-bash-2024-sponsorships-and-tickets.
The ACLU-WV is thrilled to announce another Appalachian Queer Youth Summit for the summer of 2024!
“This camp will bring together teens ages 15-19 who either identify as LGBTQ+ or come from LGBTQ+ families from across West Virginia and give them the tools they need to organize and advocate for the issues they care about.
“Campers will learn how to talk to legislators, how to run meetings, tell powerful stories, and more, and will participate in a collective action to better the lives of LGBTQ+ people after the camp concludes.
“Perhaps most importantly, AQYS campers will get to be themselves around people who understand them.
“This year's camp will be held Aug. 7-11 in Morgantown. As always, participation is totally free and travel stipends are available for those who need them.
“Ready to come to camp? Apply here.
“Are you a former camper age 20-21 who would like to serve as a Junior Counselor? Apply here.
“Interested in volunteering? Apply here.
“Please contact Mollie Kennedy atmkennedy@acluwv.org with any additional questions.”
Fairness West Virginia is a civil rights advocacy organtization dedicated to the fair and equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender West Virginians.
They were very active during the 2024 West Virginia Legislative Session. According to the Fairness website, “We tracked about 40 anti-LGBTQ+ bills — bills that would, in one way or another, restrict the rights of our community or put us at risk for discrimination, harassment or violence. “We defeated almost every single anti-LGBTQ+ bill this year, except for one bill, House Bill 4233, which bans listing ‘non-binary’ on a child’s birth certificate, a practice that already isn’t currently allowed.”
Follow Fairness West Virginia on Facebook.
“The West Virginia Transgender Coalition is a grassroots organization that works to ensure the wellbeing, safety and lived equity of all trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive community members within the state of West Virginia.”
For more information, please go their Facebook page.
A national call for moral revival: Save the date - Saturday, March 2, at Noon. For more information go here or email westvirginia@poorpeoplescampaign.org to get involved.
This group organized in December 2021 in Charleston “to illuminate the experiences of LGBTQ+ people of color in West Virginia and provide them with a safe space of fellowship,” according to a story in the Juneteenth edition of Black By God: The West Virginian. For more information, email WVBPfoundation@outlook.com or Kasha@wvpfoundation.com.
According to its website, “We are an emerging news and storytelling organization centering Black voices from the Mountain State. We provide a more nuanced portrayal of the Black experience in the Appalachian region.” Crystal Good is the editor/publisher/founder of Black By God.
There is a weekly online edition and a quarterly print edition.
To contact Black by God, email Info@Blackbygod.org or call 304-207-0352. The mailing address is 2156 University Ave. Suite 400, Morgantown, WV, 26505. To make a tax-deductible donation, go to blackbygod.org/donate.