A judge's ruling is a major step for LGBTQ West Virginians' rights, but some lawmakers are still

A judge’s ruling is a major step for LGBTQ West Virginians’ rights, but some lawmakers are still pushing in the opposite direction


Robb Livingood checked every required box on the job listing when he applied to be a public defender for West Virginia’s 5th Judicial Circuit in Jackson, Calhoun, Mason and Roane counties. He was a graduate of West Virginia University, with glowing recommendations, an impeccable resume and a license to practice law.

“I had spent a life building my resume and my qualifications, and I was bringing a lot to the table,” Livingood said.

But after an interview, Livingood wasn’t offered the job, and the position ultimately went to someone with significantly less experience — the only other person who applied for the position.

The reason, Livingood says, was because he was transitioning. At the time, he was publicly presenting as a masculine woman and privately experimenting with his pronouns, but had yet to come out as transgender.

Read more: https://mountainstatespotlight.org/2022/02/03/major-step-lgbtq-west-virginians-rights/