Manchin says he won't support LGBTQ protection bill as written

[left-of-center2012]

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said Monday that he would not support legislation intended to extend federal protections to the LGBTQ community unless it undergoes changes.

Manchin said he opposes "discrimination of any kind" against the LGBTQ community
but expressed concerns about whether the bill provided local officials with enough say.

"After speaking with local education officials in West Virginia, I am not convinced that the Equality Act as written provides sufficient guidance to the local officials who will be responsible for implementing it, particularly with respect to students transitioning between genders in public schools," he also noted.

Manchin's opposition to the legislation came under attack from his own state party, the West Virginia Democratic Party. "We simply cannot allow West Virginia to deny equality and protections for our LGBTQ community," the party said in a statement.

Manchin and Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) are the only Democrats in Congress that have voiced opposition the bill, which was introduced by Democratic leaders last week.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/434613-manchin-says-he-wont-support-lgbtq-protection-bill-as-written

[CincyDem]

1. This is where we have to remind ourselves...

...better to have Manchin's vote 30-40 % of the time than a republican's vote 0% of the time.

Still, it's frustrating.

[yardwork]

7. Even more important is to regain the majority in the Senate.

We need every Democrat we can elect.

[Va Lefty]

2. Translation-

The people of WV. won't support fair and decent treatment for all Americans. Very sad.

[gratuitous]

4. That's how I read it

And Manchin apparently can't make the argument that the Constitution is meant for all of America's citizens.

[melman]

3. ACLU of WV

Link to tweet

[Volaris]

5. That means local officials aren't told in this bill that they CAN discriminate against 'these people

Manchin is a senator, not a district rep. If something is good for the institution of his state, he's supposed to support it, vote for it, and educate the idiots who might live there as to WHY it's good for his state government.

I'm no fan of the Cornhusker Kickback, but Ben Nelson damn-well understood what his JOB WAS.

Manchin either doesn't understand what his job is, or he's too chickenshit to tell his own people when they're acting like twats.

[MiniMe]

6. I hate to be ignorant of the facts, but what does the Q stand for in LGBTQ?

I'm trying to stay educated. Is it Queer?

[Behind the Aegis]

8. "Queer" or "Questioning"

It just depends on the speaker and the group.

[MiniMe]

9. Thanks for explaining

I've been scratching my head over it.

[JI7]

10. he should support it