Gay and Lesbian Community

Lambda Society on Marshall University campus was vibrant by 1981

West Virginia Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Rights formed

Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Rights introduced first amendments to add sexual orientation to hate crime laws and the West Virginia Human Rights Act

First Lesbian and Gay Pride march was held on Marshall University campus

Week-long gay rights celebration at Marshall was met with counter-protest covered by CNN

Julia Hagan became first West Virginia representative of support group, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

First statewide Gay Pride Parade held in Charleston

Rainbow Pride of West Virginia was founded as West Virginia Pride

Other events that happened on or around 1997

Fairness West Virginia was founded

Following court rulings and announcements by the governor and attorney general, same-sex marriage was effectively legalized in West Virginia