Sex-Orientation Discrimination Bill

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Just recently, the Washington state House of Representatives passed HB 2661, which would extend the Law Against Discrimination to include sexual orientation in areas involving 'employment; places of public resort, accommodation, or amusement; commerce; and real estate, credit, and insurance transactions.'  It will be the duty of the Washington State Human Rights Commission to enforce this law.
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Background:

LAW AGAINST DISCRIMINATION

Washington's Law Against Discrimination establishes that it is a civil right to be free from discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal. This right applies to employment; places of public resort, accommodation, or amusement; commerce;
and real estate, credit, and insurance transactions.

To effectuate the right to be free from discrimination, the law defines certain practices as being unfair. For example, it is deemed to be an unfair practice to fire or to refuse to hire a person based on sex, race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, the presence of any sensory or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal.

There are some exceptions to the Law Against Discrimination. For example, in the employment context, employers with fewer than eight employees and non-profit religious or sectarian organizations are exempt from these laws.

WASHINGTON STATE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

The Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) is responsible, in part, for administering and enforcing the Law Against Discrimination. The WSHRC receives and investigates complaints made by persons alleging unfair practices in violation of this law. If the WSHRC finds that there is reasonable cause to believe that discrimination has occurred, it must first try to eliminate the unfair practice via conference and conciliation. If this process fails, the WSHRC must refer the matter to an administrative law judge who may, after a hearing on the matter, issue an order providing relief to the complainant.

Source: House Bill Report on HB 2661
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With the defection of a key Republican whose lone vote prevented the bill from becoming law last time, it is assured of passage in the state Senate also.

If you were a state legislator in either body, how would you have voted on this legislation?

 

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It's about time:

Senate passes gay rights bill;
One-vote margin sends measure to state House

By CHRIS McGANN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

OLYMPIA -- The Senate today voted 25-23 to approve a gay rights bill and ended the debate over legislation that emerged in Washington the same year singer Anita Bryant began her "Save Our Children" crusade against such protections.

Twenty four of 26 Democrats were joined by one Republican and approved the bill with a one-vote majority.

Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, has championed the legislation for a decade. The openly gay legislator, who waited in the wings for the vote, embraced his partner as the clerk read the vote count.

"I'm very happy," Murray said. "It's a moment of joy."

Democrats said the bill was about preventing discrimination.

"The rights of the minority must always be protected," said Sen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma. But polarized views on homosexuality drove emotional debate that was almost identical to that which preceded the vote last year -- when the bill failed by one vote.

Sen. Bill Finkbeiner, R-Kirkland, reversed his previous position to turn the tide this year.

"This has been a terribly difficult issue for me," said Finkbeiner as he explained his change of heart.

"What we are really talking about here is...whether or not it's OK to be gay or homosexual in this state. On whether or not it's appropriate to be discriminating against or to discriminate against someone because of that."

"People don't choose this. We don't choose who we love, the heart chooses who we love," Finkbeiner said.

"I don't believe that it is right ... to say that it's acceptable to discriminate against people because of that , because of who their heart chooses to love. I can not stand with that argument."

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Gregoire signs Civil Rights Act into law:
Landmark legislation extends protections to gays and lesbians

By JAKE ELLISON
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

It's official. Gov. Christine Gregoire has signed into law the landmark legislation that expands the Washington Civil Rights Act to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination in employment, housing and lending.

“I am proud that finally, after far too many years, the State of Washington has taken an affirmative stand to say to gay and lesbian individuals, moms and dads, sons and daughters, neighbors, co-workers and friends, living in Washington State that they are, like all other people, free to work in an environment absent discrimination,” the governor said in a prepared statement.

The Senate passed the legislation Friday in a 25-23 roll-call vote that ended nearly 30 years of debate over the issue. Gregoire signed the legislation this morning.

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