West Virginia governor repeals DEI, signs vaccine waiver on second day in office – Truthout

West Virginia Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued a series of executive orders on his second day in office, including measures to allow religious exemptions for school vaccinations and eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within state government.

The actions drew criticism from state leaders and activists, including West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Mike Pushkin, who criticized the executive orders as a “disturbing example” of government overreach that “could harm us for generations.”

“The governor-elect of West Virginia needs to remember that he is the governor of all of us, even people who don’t necessarily share his beliefs, and also people who don’t look like him,” Pushkin said.

In announcing the executive orders, Morrissey cited a 2023 ruling by the far-right U.S. Supreme Court that struck down affirmative action and indicated that his administration would issue letters to all cabinet officials and agency heads directing them to review each “potential DEI that may exist within government.”

Transgender activist from West Virginia Lazarus Orr also criticized the actions of the governor of X, posting: “Reminder that [Morrisey] he doesn’t care about West Virginians — his priority is lining his own pockets and tearing down the few protections our marginalized communities have left in this state.

Critics have previously raised questions about potential conflicts of interest related to Morrissey’s tenure as West Virginia’s attorney general, a role he has held since 2013. until his recent inauguration as governor. In particular, his wife has lobbied for Cardinal Health, a pharmaceutical distributor linked to the opioid crisis, while Morrissey’s office has been involved in related investigations. In addition, in 2023 attorney Harvey Payton accused Morrissey of “misusing the law” in pursuing lawsuits affecting state prison conditions. A federal judge issued a directed verdict against the state, citing the destruction of relevant documents.

Orr emphasized that these executive orders appear to target LGBTQ rights, even though West Virginia previously had one of the largest populations of trans youth in the nation, and ignore the real issues facing West Virginians. “I would really like to [Morrisey] and @WVGOP to explain how targeting us trans West Virginians and curtailing our rights will address our state’s crumbling infrastructure, public school closings, foster care crisis and growing health care deserts,” Orr wrote to X.

Activist and journalist Erin Reed classifies West Virginia as a “high-risk state” for transgender people. As attorney general, Morrissey championed an anti-trans law barring transgender youth from participating in gender-identified sports. He has since announced plans to work with the state legislature to create a legal gender definition that specifically excludes and targets transgender West Virginians.

Morrissey’s actions will continue to make the state even more inhospitable to trans West Virginians — possibly exacerbating the state’s population decline. Meanwhile, the country continues to grapple with serious challenges: crumbling roads, bridges and water systems; widespread closing of public schools, especially in rural areas, due to declining enrollment and budget cuts; and one of the highest rates of children in foster care in the country, driven by the opioid crisis and widespread poverty that are straining social services. In addition, parts of West Virginia are becoming “health care deserts” as rural hospitals and clinics close due to financial difficulties, exacerbating the state’s poor health outcomes and already low life expectancy.

“It’s up to us to organize ourselves and fight back every step of the way,” Orr told X.