UNFORTUNATELY, the most conspicuous action by West Virginia's legislators this year was to give themselves a 33 percent, $5,000 raise, plus more lucrative fringe benefits.

About the only bright aspects of the 2008 session were approval of a research endowment designed to spawn high-tech industries around West Virginia's two top universities - and easing of business taxes, which may entice more employers to this state.

Although teachers and other government workers got raises, much of the 60-day regular session was a letdown.

For example, an attempt to ban all-terrain vehicles from paved roads - intended to prevent almost two-thirds of Mountain State deaths on the popular buggies - was scuttled at the last minute by House Roads Chairman Lidella Hrutkay, D-Logan.

Lawmakers even failed to remove "Open for Business" from welcome signs at state borders - and one still looms on I-77 near the Virginia line - but the governor's office says the unpopular slogan soon will be replaced by "Wild, Wonderful," despite legislative inaction.

Saddest of all, House leaders wouldn't let West Virginia follow the national trend toward fair treatment of gays.

This state's Human Rights law (Code 5-11) protects blacks, Jews, women, immigrants, oldsters and other minorities from being victimized by prejudice. It says they can't be fired from their jobs or thrown out of their apartments through bigoted discrimination.

Unanimously, the state Senate voted to extend the law to cover two more minorities: homosexuals and the disabled. But fundamentalist groups who loathe gays raised a ruckus. Kevin McCoy of the West Virginia Family Foundation said senators were "pushing a homosexual agenda."

During a House hearing last week, Delegate Kelli Sobonya, R-Cabell, said "it's wrong in the sight of God" to protect gays. She added: "Homosexuality is an abomination to God. It's in the scriptures. It's not my words, it's God's."

About the only bright aspects of the 2008 session were approval of a research endowment designed to spawn high-tech industries around West Virginia's two top universities - and easing of business taxes, which may entice more employers to this state.

Although teachers and other government workers got raises, much of the 60-day regular session was a letdown.

For example, an attempt to ban all-terrain vehicles from paved roads - intended to prevent almost two-thirds of Mountain State deaths on the popular buggies - was scuttled at the last minute by House Roads Chairman Lidella Hrutkay, D-Logan.

Lawmakers even failed to remove "Open for Business" from welcome signs at state borders - and one still looms on I-77 near the Virginia line - but the governor's office says the unpopular slogan soon will be replaced by "Wild, Wonderful," despite legislative inaction.

Saddest of all, House leaders wouldn't let West Virginia follow the national trend toward fair treatment of gays.

This state's Human Rights law (Code 5-11) protects blacks, Jews, women, immigrants, oldsters and other minorities from being victimized by prejudice. It says they can't be fired from their jobs or thrown out of their apartments through bigoted discrimination.

Unanimously, the state Senate voted to extend the law to cover two more minorities: homosexuals and the disabled. But fundamentalist groups who loathe gays raised a ruckus. Kevin McCoy of the West Virginia Family Foundation said senators were "pushing a homosexual agenda."

During a House hearing last week, Delegate Kelli Sobonya, R-Cabell, said "it's wrong in the sight of God" to protect gays. She added: "Homosexuality is an abomination to God. It's in the scriptures. It's not my words, it's God's."

Delegate Mel Kessler, D-Raleigh - a fringe candidate opposing Gov. Manchin in this spring's Democratic primary - said gays might contaminate others with AIDS if allowed into workplaces. Good grief, what an ignorant comment.

In response to these hidebound views, Delegate Barbara Fleischauer, D-Monongalia, noted that religion has been used in the past to justify hatred of various groups: "People have had some awful, awful views."

Statehouse columnist Phil Kabler noted that Sobonya hilariously warned: "If this trend continues, no one could discriminate against anyone for any reason."

The House Judiciary Committee strongly approved the Senate bill - but the House Rules Committee abruptly killed it. This unexplained action caused Delegate Cliff Moore, D-McDowell, to give a floor speech saying he was ashamed of his chamber of the Legislature.

Why weren't House members allowed to vote on this humanitarian measure?

Fundamentalists often contend that gays shouldn't be afforded "special protection" by human rights laws. But they don't object to similar protection for blacks, Jews, women, seniors, etc. Evidently they feel that it's wrong to hate blacks, Jews, and the like - but not wrong to hate gays.

Most of America says otherwise. Step by step, other states, cities, agencies and corporations are granting equality to homosexuals. The tide of morality is flowing steadily in that direction. It's only a matter of time until national unanimity is established.

West Virginia should join this humane progress, not drag behind.