In the verdant hills of West Virginia, where the air is thick with the scent of summer and the sweet, sweet sound of banjo music fills the air, a quiet revolution is brewing. And at the heart of this thrilling saga—this not-so-epic tale of change in the mountain state—lies Fairness West Virginia. This organization, founded in 2009, is on a mission to transform the quaintest of towns into sparkling beacons of equality, one nondiscrimination ordinance at a time. Yes, you heard that right! While some states lurch towards modernity at a glacial pace, Fairness West Virginia is sprinting through cities and hamlets like a contestant on a reality show, peppering the landscape with proclamations that read: “No one shall be discriminated against for their sexual orientation or gender identity, even in the tiniest of towns!” Let’s start by talking about Thurmond, a town with a population smaller than many college dorms. In 2015, this limited assemblage of humanity made headlines for adopting an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance. It felt like an episode of a feel-good sitcom when the announcement came through that this pint-sized locale had achieved the remarkable feat of being the “smallest town in the nation” to embrace equality. Somewhere in the cosmos, the spirits of civil rights champions did a little jig, while the townsfolk likely scratched their heads and wondered whether they’d just accidentally signed up for a new reality show called “Equality: Small Town Edition.” Now, let’s venture a little deeper into the narrative. Fairness West Virginia isn’t just making public announcements; oh no! They’re getting into the practice of legal and personal advocacy like a new breed of legal eagles. Remember the 2017 incident in Gilmer County, where a lesbian couple—who, it seems, were ambitious enough to want to get a marriage license—were harassed? Enter Fairness WV like a modern-day Robin Hood, swooping in to rescue these damsels from the dark, archaic forces of discrimination. And what unforgettable justice prevailed! The county not only settled but agreed to a training program for all officials, presumably to ensure that next time someone walks in with a rainbow, they’re not sent into a spiral of confusion over what exactly they’re allowed to do. But let’s not forget the ultimate object of desire among Fairness West Virginia’s distinguished list of accomplishments: banning conversion therapy for minors. Ah yes, the idea that a child can choose their sexual orientation, coupled with the wildly popular theory that you can scare, shock, or shame someone into being “normal.” Charleston and Morgantown, in a show of profound visionary leadership, joined the ranks of enlightened modernity. It’s almost Shakespearean, really—“To be, or not to be”—except in this case, it’s “To be gay or not to be gay—but definitely not through any conversion therapy, thank you very much!” Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s certainly admirable that Fairness WV is fighting the good fight in a state that’s often perceived as holding tight to its more traditional values and knee-jerk reactions against the tides of change. They’ve become the Avengers of civil rights, delivering powerful speeches and clapping back against bigotry with the abandon of a kegger on graduation night. However, one must wonder if all this effort, fervor, and the almost whimsical nature of turning small towns into “big leagues of equality” leads to any deep, systemic change. Are people’s minds changed by policies alone, or do they simply roll their eyes and follow the law begrudgingly? A nondiscrimination ordinance is indeed a shiny new toy, but does it have the momentum to fuel a true societal transformation? In the end, we must ask ourselves whether we’re genuinely moving towards a place where hearts and minds align with the legal code or merely creating another layer of bureaucracy that declares, “We support diversity!” while secretly hoping the conversation ends quickly. So, here’s to Fairness West Virginia. May they continue expending their energy turning small towns into big leagues of equality, one well-intentioned ordinance at a time. And let’s tip our hats to the small-town residents that will likely spend the next few decades figuring out what it means to embrace such radical concepts as love and acceptance. Because why just be a small town when you can also be the stage for a statewide drama about equality? Bravo, West Virginia!