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(Olympia, Washington) A statewide gay civil rights law
has taken
effect after foes of the measure failed to submit enough
voter signatures to force a public vote this fall.
The measure adds “sexual orientation” to a state law that bans
discrimination in housing, employment, insurance and credit. It makes
Washington the 17th state with laws protecting gays and lesbians, and the
seventh to protect transgender people.
Gay rights supporters said discrimination will not end with this new law.
“But it sends a very strong message that discrimination against gay
people is wrong and illegal” said Matt Foreman, executive director of
the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force in Washington, D.C. “And it
sends a strong message to potential victims that you don’t have to take
it any more.”
Opponents of the law argue that it gives gays and lesbians preferential
treatment, encourages quotas, and could lead to same-sex marriage — an
issue the state Supreme Court is expected to rule on any week now.
“This is a flagrant attempt to force values upon others,” said Rick
Forcier, state director of the Christian Coalition.
Referendum 65 would have asked voters whether they wanted to keep the
anti-discrimination law passed this year by the Legislature.
But referendum supporters fell short of the number of signatures they
needed to make it to the ballot. Initiative activist Tim Eyman arrived at
the state elections division just minutes before closing time Tuesday (story)
and
announced he and allies had collected 105,103 signatures — fewer than
the 112,440 minimum required and considerably less than the 130,000 that
is suggested in order to cover duplicate or invalid signatures.
“There is a God,” House Majority Leader
Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, said when she heard of that development.
State Rep. Ed Murray, one of four openly gay state lawmakers and prime
sponsor of the legislation, said he too was relieved.
“This means people do not believe in discrimination,” he said. “They
may not feel good about gay and lesbian people, but they don’t like
discrimination.”
Gary Randall, president of the Faith & Freedom Network, said that the
conservative religious community would still try to repeal the law, but
was discussing what options were available, including a possible
initiative to the Legislature next legislative session.
©365Gay.com 2006
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