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House Bill 2595 would prohibit “discriminatory ‘divisive acts’ in the workplace,” end “the teaching of ‘divisive acts’ in West Virginia schools,” and ban “state funding to agencies who promote ‘divisive acts,'” the legislation outlines.

“Divisive concepts” are defined to include the concepts that “one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex,” the “United States is fundamentally racist or sexist,” “an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously,” “an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex,” “members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex,” “an individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex,” “an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex,” “any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex [or] meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a particular race to oppress another race.”

“The term ‘divisive concepts’ also includes any other form of race or sex stereotyping or any other form of race or sex scapegoating,” the legislation says.