2024 HOD Candidate Questionnaire Response
Name Diane Market Gaston
Office Sought House of Delegates
Party Affiliation Democrat
District 78
City/Town Morgantown, WV
Campaign Website DianeforWV
On June 24, 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, effectively overturning Roe v. Wade. As a result, the WV legislature enacted a near total ban on abortion less than three months later. With no access to or Constitutional protections for abortion, what do you think abortion policy should look like in West Virginia?
Actually, there should not be a policy. Because of legislation not only is women's privacy invaded but any and all medical care regarding pregnancy is effected. This is straightforward medical care. Many women who want their pregnancies are put in serious medical situations because of this legislation. This has put all women in a position of being subservient to the government and medical care policed by politicians who have little to no knowledge of any type of medical care.
Several West Virginia municipalities have passed ordinances that expand the definition of racial discrimination to include discriminating against traditional or natural hair textures and styles. Would you support expanding this protection statewide? Why or why not?
Of course, yes. Because our “hair” standards are set as if white Caucasian hair is the normal. And anything other than that “normal” is unacceptable. Setting a standard based on one race clearly sets a tone and message, others are unacceptable. I thought we were a country of diversity and acceptance.
Many states have created laws that seek to limit the teaching of "divisive concepts" or "critical race theory". West Virginia narrowly missed passing a similar law during the 2022 Legislative Session. What is the value or harm in teaching these topics and what role should the legislature play in determining this curriculum?
"First of all “Critical Race Theory” is not taught in elementary or high school. Period.
Divisive Concepts? You mean a more full well balanced version of truth? Truth is tough. History, as all subjects should be taught at age appropriate grades and ages. No one ever grows in complacency. Our minds only are tested when challenged. It seems to me we want to teach students how to think and discuss subjects. How else will we grow and discern? Or we could become Florida and peddle theories that slavery taught African Americans skills."
Currently there is no statewide law protecting people in matters of employment, housing, and public accommodations based on their sexuality or gender identity. Proponents claim these protections are necessary for ongoing discrimination by the LGBTQ community. Opponents claim that such protections infringe upon religious beliefs. What do you believe and would you support or oppose a statewide law?
One can have their “religious beliefs”. Beliefs are theirs and theirs alone. Does not make them facts, just beliefs. If we believe liberty and justice for all, then it means all. If one creates a business which the public has access, then we must follow liberty and justice for all. If one feels that their beliefs are violated by renting to or doing some type of business with the LGBTQ community, then kindly do not go into a business that serves the public. Your beliefs are yours, but when in public, liberty and justice for all.
During the 2024 legislative session, the Senate passed legislation mandating, “In God We Trust” be posted in all West Virginia schools and permitting teachers to discuss ‘creationism’ and ‘intelligent design creationism’ as part of public-school science curricula. What role do you think religion should play in the public school system, and why?
Religion should not be in the public schools, unless it is a class about different religions. So a student can learn and comprehend the vastness of the different types and beliefs of religions. Otherwise what religion are we teaching and basing our curriculum on? Roman Catholic? Jewish? Spirituality? Makes no sense. Creationism is a belief of some, not all, Christian religions. So choosing a few “concepts” from a particular version of Christianity sounds like Christian Nationalism. Is that where this State is headed? One version, one set of beliefs and we pick those to be what we are teaching? Sounds like the direction we are heading. Then let’s drop the pandering of we are a Nation of diversity.
In 2023, West Virginia lawmakers passed HB2007, severely restricting access to gender affirming healthcare services for West Virginians under the age of 18. Proponents of the legislation claimed it was about keeping kids safe, and opponents argued in favor of parental rights and medical freedom. What role, if any, do you believe government should play regarding medical decisions relating to gender affirming healthcare services, and why?
Again, as the previous question of abortion, the legislature should not belong in medicine. We have allowed gender affirming care to be the scapegoat of our current culture war. What about intersex folks? Have we created laws about them? Do people even know they exist? And at what percent of the population? What about chromosome diversity? What are we to do about that? Culture wars are allowing the citizens to take their eye off the ball of many real problems, and sink into culture wars.
Though abolished in 1965, lawmakers have introduced multiple bills designed to reinstate the death penalty. What are your thoughts on capital punishment in general, and would you support or oppose the effort to reinstate the death penalty in West Virginia?
First the death penalty has never deterred crime. That has been proven time and time again. Death Row is a long drawn out and very costly to our prison system. If we as a society believe we are best nation ever, well great nations don’t kill people. Great nations don’t seek retaliatory measures. Great nations are thoughtful, and problem solvers, not retribution. We need to put more effort into how we prevent these crimes up front, rather than chasing the issue downstream.
There is increasing tension with communities of people who are unhoused or face housing insecurity. Police breakups of encampments are common, and municipalities have shown growing opposition to low-barrier housing and recovery housing. How would you address community concerns while protecting the rights of unhoused people?
Capitalism run amok leaves our communities in such precarious situations. People are unhoused for a vast amount of reasons. No one strategy is going to resolve the problem. I believe the beginning of this problem solving should be to go to local communities. City Councils, County Agencies, and their social service agencies, find out the problems of a particular community and strategies to solve.The legislation can assist with allocation of monies to these communities. I don’t believe the problems in Morgantown are the same facing Logan County. We too often try to create strategies from a central office and apply to any and all communities. Just doesn’t work too well and misses so many aspects of the problems facing each individual area.
Police violence has been in the forefront of national headlines for several years. Some propose more civilian oversight of law enforcement through civilian review boards that could review incidents and policies. Others view these boards as "anti-police" and point out that civilians are ill-equipped to understand the nature of police work. Do you support the use of civilian review boards? What other steps, if any, should the state take to provide transparency and accountability for police?
Police and sheriff departments have moved to militarized departments away from the protect and serve departments of yesterday. And with the amount of armed citizens, that leaves everyone in difficult and dangerous situations. When speaking of defunding police, it is not meaning don’t fund, it means moving some monies to other modalities of police work. Perhaps if more social workers were employed to assist with the mental health calls and child abuse and neglect calls, some of the load could be alleviated. Citizen boards may also be a good solution to oversight of some police decisions. Then the question becomes what power or duty do these boards have regarding findings? This may be a solution, and there are lots of unanswered questions and details to address.
Jails in West Virginia are above capacity and are bankrupting some counties. Prisons are understaffed, making them dangerous for residents and staff alike. What steps, if any, should West Virginia take to address these issues?
We as a society somehow think punishment is the answer to many problems. It of course is not. Our jails are full of alcoholics/addicts/ and those with mental illness. Drug courts are in many counties and are an excellent opportunity for people to work toward getting their life back on track. Family courts are also an excellent diversion solution, and we need more assistance with those suffering with mental illness. When a member of a family is locked up, that family falls into more disarray and financial poverty. Stigma and stress cause people to continue to act out. Locking people up is costly and people come out as they went in, with no more ability to conduct their lives to be a successful citizen. That is not to say do away with jails and prisons, some criminals need to be locked up to protect the public.Again, we need more prevention strategies, dealing with problems leading to crime rather than trying to catch it downstream.
Currently, people coming out of incarceration on probation, parole, or supervised release for a felony conviction are unable to vote. When, if ever, do you think people should lose their right to vote? When, if ever, should that right be restored?
I think when the person has completed probation, parole, completes whatever components of their sentence, then after a certain period of time, with no new charges, voting rights should be returned. We ask people to rehab, change and become a productive citizen, and then say, naw we are going to punish you for the rest of your life. Makes no sense.
Across the country, there is controversy about what is obscene. Often these focus on sexual education, content that discusses sexual orientation or gender identity, profanity, and references to sex. This controversy has led to renewed attempts to censor or restrict access to controversial material. What do you think is the proper role of the government in restrict material like this and where do you draw the line at what is obscene?
I am a bit uncertain the context of the question. The beginning appears to be related to sex education in schools, the later a more general association. Sex education in school does not indoctrinate students, rather overviews the diversity of normal. Restriction of material, what is obscene? That is a big question. One narrow answer is any child pornography is obscene.