McIntosh wants anti- discrimination rule for the town
By Olivia Morgan
STAR CITY — “I am by no means done — even when it happens, we don’t quit there,” DeeDee McIntosh said.
A Star City resident, McIntosh has been dedicated to the addition of an anti-discrimination ordinance in the town. She first proposed the ordinance to Council on Jan. 28.
Though Council did approve changes to its personnel manual, such an ordinance is not in place.
Star City Council meetings may have been postponed indefinitely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but McIntosh doesn’t plan to let the issue lie despite the delay.
“My efforts will not stop until this is passed in Star City,” McIntosh said, “but even then, there is much work to do.”
McIntosh collaborated with Andrew Schneider of Fairness WV to write the ordinance she initially proposed.
“[The ordinance] essentially gives all the protections for groups already protected under the [West Virginia] Human Rights Act, plus those for sexual orientation and gender identity,” McIntosh said.
The driving force behind the drafting of the ordinance and the subsequent proposal to Council was McIntosh’s desire for equality among all minority groups.
“While I have always felt civil rights have been important, I have seen so often that those protections need to be protected by law,” McIntosh said. “I have been aware of both the state law and the Morgantown ordinance for many years, but in my capacity of liaison from PFLAG Morgantown to the Morgantown Human Rights Commission, I saw just how many protections can be afforded to minority groups.
“As a Star City resident for 10 years, I began researching ordinances here and saw we lacked any minority protections,” McIntosh continued. “My passion for equality for all wouldn’t let me stay silent.”
McIntosh said that while there is a lack of “rampant discrimination in Star City,” minority protections should be established by law to prevent potential such instances.
McIntosh said she is grateful to Star City Council for how well it received her proposal and the immediate changes to the town’s personnel handbook to protect town employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
“It has given me so much hope that we can give that to all Star City residents and visitors — at least in fair housing, employment protections and public accommodations,” McIntosh said.
McIntosh is a proponent for several advocacy groups in the Morgantown area, including PFLAG Morgantown, the Morgantown Human Rights Commission and Morgantown Pride.
McIntosh is also associated with the League of Women Voters and Mountaineers for Progress because she “also strongly [believes] we must be involved in educating the public on candidates for office and [on other] issues.”
McIntosh also advocates for equality in the educational system.
“I’ve always pushed for students and teachers in our schools to make sure both are treated fairly and equally,” McIntosh said.
“A truly educated mind must be an open mind. That has been my life’s work. … No one should have to be someone they aren’t. And we need to embrace equality and opportunity [for] individualism.”
McIntosh encourages other members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as allies of the community to become active advocates to bring the LGBTQ+ community closer to complete equality.
“While great strides have been made in this, there is still far to go in being truly equal — legally, to be sure, but also in many minds and hearts,” McIntosh said. “If we want something to happen, we must be willing to stand up and speak out for it.”
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic it is difficult members or allies of the LGBTQ+ community to practice active advocacy.
McIntosh said there are ways to practice advocacy from home.
“Always read; Google topics; write to local, state, and national representatives and administrators. Be aware but careful on social media to get accurate information,” McIntosh said. “Talk to others to let them know how important it is to keep working toward equality for all. And never, ever be afraid to ask if you don’t know.”
