Anti-gay group accused of 'intimidating' lawmakers

A conservative Christian group opposing an LGBT equality bill and pressing for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage has been accused of trying to intimidate two West Virginia lawmakers. House Judiciary Chairwoman Carrie Webster and Delegate Barbara Fleischauer say they are on the receiving end of a telemarketing campaign by the Family Policy Council of West Virginia. People in the two lawmakers' districts have been receiving calls saying that Webster and Fleischauer are blocking a ban on gay marriage, according to The Charleston Gazette. The calls tell voters to send a message to the two politicians, and if the recipients choose, they are then patched through to Webster's or Fleischauer's office. Family Policy Council President Jeremiah Dys confirmed his group had hired a firm to make the calls "as part of our educational effort." "We've been encouraging people to make calls to Delegate Webster and Delegate Fleischauer," Dys told The Gazette. "They are the two people standing in the way of 1.8 million West Virginians deciding the definition of marriage." Webster said callers are trying to "intimidate" her and Fleischauer. "They call my staff idiots. They call my staff God-haters," she told the paper. "I believe people should be able to exercise their free speech, but I do think it's a manipulation." The proposed amendment has been referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Revision, which Fleischauer heads. If approved there, it would go to Webster's committee. Amending the West Virginia constitution requires approval of the legislature and a vote by the electorate. Last year the Family Policy Council unsuccessfully attempted to pressure Gov. Joe Manchin to recall the legislature to pass the proposed amendment. The measure was added to the legislature's agenda this session. Webster said she believes the pressure calls also are related to an LGBT equality bill. Last week the state Senate voted to add sexual orientation to West Virginia's civil rights laws. It still needs approval in the House. "I think the objective has been to make sure that we don't protect gays in employment and in housing," Webster told the Gazette.