ELKINS — State Senator Robbie Morris, R-District 11, and Delegate Jonathan Kyle, R-District 66, have spoken out against the controversial House resolution that would officially rename Spruce Knob as “Trump Mountain.”

Meanwhile, half of the resolution’s 12 legislative sponsors appeared by Monday afternoon to have backed out of supporting the measure.

Morris took to social media on Feb. 14 after receiving “countless numbers of phone calls, emails, text messages and social media contacts” in regard to House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 33, which, if adopted, would officially rename Spruce Knob in Pendleton County as “Trump Mountain” five years after President Donald Trump’s death.

“First of all, I am wholeheartedly opposed to the notion that we should change the name of Spruce Knob for any reason,” Morris said on social media. “Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia, our beloved Mountain State, is sacred. It is significant part of culture, history, landscape, and economy. The idea of changing the name is foolish at best.”

HCR 33 was introduced on Feb. 14 by Delegate Elias Coop-Gonzalez, R-District 67, and sponsored by 12 other delegates, though only six sponsors remain on the current iteration of the resolution as of press time.

The preamble of HCR 33 states that Spruce Knob symbolizes “strength, endurance and resilience,” and attributed those qualities to the “leadership and perseverance” demonstrated by Trump, touting that the President’s “dedication to the state and its citizens has had a profound and lasting impact” on the state.

The resolution received severe backlash on social media from constituents over the weekend. A petition on Change.org titled “Prevent the Renaming of Spruce Knob to Trump Mountain” has received more than 3,000 signatures as of press time.

Morris stated that he will be monitoring the resolution and will “take any appropriate action to ensure it does not make it through the legislative process.”

“I have full faith and confidence in the leadership and membership of the House of Delegates, and I know they will take the appropriate action in regard to this resolution,” Morris said.

Kyle spoke out against HCR 33 on social media Feb. 15, after also being contacted by constituents.

“I am strongly against any effort to change the name of Spruce Knob,” Kyle said on social media. “As the highest point in West Virginia, Spruce Knob holds a special place in our state’s identity. It represents our heritage, our natural beauty and even supports our local economy through tourism. Changing its name would be a mistake.”

Kyle thanked those who reached out, saying he shared their commitment to “preserving the name” of Spruce Knob.

“(Spruce Knob) is a part of who we are as West Virginians, and I’ll do everything in my power to protect it,” Kyle said.

Six of the initial 12 sponsors — delegates Trenton Barnhart, Eric Brooks, Michael DeVault, Scot Heckert, Keith Marple and Patrick Lucas — have been removed from the list of HCR 33’s sponsors, according to the West Virginia Legislature website.

Brooks reportedly told a constituent that he had not been aware of what the resolution fully entailed when he supported it, according to an email exchange that was shared on social media.

“When I signed on to this resolution, I was under the impression that it was an honorary naming,” Brooks said in the email to a constituent. “Meaning, we would place a plaque nearby in recognition of the life of President Trump… Once I realized the full extent of the resolution, I withdrew my name from it and will not support it. I would not want a permanent name change for Spruce Knob.”

Delegates Chris Anders, Jordan Bridges, Henry Dillon, Daniel Linville, Charles Sheedy and Lisa White remain as sponsors of HCR 33, alongside Gonzalez, as of press time.

On Monday, Gonzalez also introduced House Resolution (HR) 6, which would recognize “Transgenderism as a Mental Disorder and Affirming the Biological Reality of Two Genders.”

HR 6 is sponsored by six other delegates, including Dillion, Sheedy and Brooks.

The preamble of HR 6 states that “the biological foundation of human beings has been clear since the beginning of mankind,” quoting Genesis 1:27 of the Christian Bible which says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

The preamble mentions, but does not describe, that studies have shown that the “affirmation of transgender identities without comprehensive psychological evaluation and treatment may exacerbate mental health issues, including depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation, particularly in young people.”

The enactment states that, if the resolution is passed, the West Virginia House of Delegates will only recognize two genders and that will see transgenderism as a “condition that requires careful psychological evaluation and appropriate mental health care, not blind affirmation.”

According to the enactment, the State of West Virginia will “encourage all healthcare professionals to prioritize scientifically-supported treatments and psychological support for individuals experiencing gender dysphoria, particularly for minors, to ensure that they receive the best care for their mental health and overall well-being.”

The House of Delegates will also, according to the enactment, “encourage citizens to engage in open dialogue” with understanding, compassion and respect, while also “upholding the importance of biological reality.”

Gonzalez also introduced House Bill 2525 on Monday, sponsored by nine delegates, including Anders, White and Brooks, which would require the Ten Commandments be displayed in West Virginia public elementary schools and secondary classrooms.

Gonzalez is appointed to the Standing Committee on Education, as well as the Subcommittees for Higher Education and Public Education.