The divide between progressive and conservative ideologies was underscored again Thursday night at the recent bimonthly Town Council Meeting in Fayetteville, WV. Local resident, Tresha Plumley, spoke in opposition to the planned Pride Events of 2025 which the council is permitting to take place across town on June 14, beginning at 11 am and going into the night.
Titled, “The Gaylien Invasion”, the event promotes the celebration of sodomy through a multitude of events including a “Glow Ride” taking place at Arrowhead Bike Farm that invites the participation of children. 
The division in town is not new, as for more than a decade some local businesses have promoted the mountain community and gateway to the New River Gorge as a mecca for LGBTQ gatherings including the Homoclimbtastic Rock Climbing Group, with an apparent name change to Queerclimbtastic in March of 2025, according to their Facebook profile. Their annual convention is held in Fayetteville each July. From their Instagram group: 
Merchants who support groups identifying by their sexual preferences have invited other places of commerce to show their support by flying the LGBTQ rainbow flag, thus, by nature, creating an exclusion to those not adhering to gender ideology. Merchants who do not wish to exalt one type of customer over another decline to participate and simply fly an “Open” flag, treating each customer with respect and gratitude.
The divide reached a crossroads during the town’s first drag show for minors which took place in September of 2022. Conservative members of the community who did not wish to see children being groomed and sexualized in this manner protested peacefully across the street from the restaurant sponsoring the show.
Currently, with events being promoted by “fayettevillewvpride” on social media for this summer, some local residents have started to attend Town Council meetings to express their opposition. Tresha Plumley has spoken at several meetings.
At the April 17, 2025 meeting, according to the meeting minutes, Plumley directed comments to CVB director, Tabitha Stover, regarding the sponsorship of a tax funded organization promoting sexual perversion. The CVB director said they were not a sponsor of the event.
More recently, at the Town Council Meeting held on May 1, 2025, Plumley distributed a collection of information sheets to council members and guests that contained the advertisements for the upcoming pride activities. She spoke of her opposition to the town supporting events that promote sexual preferences and stressed the invitation to children to participate in these events at the Fayette County Soldiers & Sailers Memorial Building.
“I really think it’s a disgrace to have some of this stuff happening in our town, out in the open, in the streets, in Soldiers & Sailers Memorial Building. And also…on Flag Day, some of the Veterans are really upset.” - Tresha Plumley, Fay. Town Council Meeting, May 1, 2025
Council member, Oakey Skidmore, who has served multiple four-year terms, also spoke during opening remarks expressing his concern about the direction of the town:
“I don’t like where we’re headed. I think it’s happened little bits at a time, but this has all been brought to me, I feel that way too, but people who have retired and do not want to be here anymore. They’re moving …but they’re not looking for a place here. They want out of here and good people that I’ve known all my life. … I think we have let our local people completely go. And if you talk to your local people, they’re going to tell you the truth.” - Oakey Skidmore, Fayetteville Town Council Member
In her closing remarks, Plumley vowed to pursue her opposition to these events in the best way that she can:
“I don’t have anything against people and what they do in their private life, but don’t bring it out on the streets and advertise that. We do have kids and we do have people who aren’t happy with it.” -Tresha Plumley, Fay. Town Council Meeting, May 1, 2025
The next Fayetteville Town Council Meeting is on May 15, 2025 at 6 pm.
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