Posted on 01/27/2006 3:40:15 PM PST by SmithL
Olympia, Wash. -- Washington lawmakers passed a gay rights bill Friday in a major victory for activists who had watched the measure fail in the Legislature for nearly 30 years.
The bill passed the Senate 25-23, with a lone Republican joining Democrats in voting in favor. The House approved it 61-37, and Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire said she would sign it on Tuesday.
"We don't choose who we love. The heart chooses who we will love," said Republican Sen. Bill Finkbeiner. "And I don't believe that it is right for us to say ... that it's acceptable to discriminate against people because of that."
The measure adds sexual orientation to a state law banning discrimination in housing, employment and insurance on the basis of race, gender, age, disability, religion, marital status and other factors. Sixteen states have passed similar laws.
Passage of the bill drew applause from House members and cheers from onlookers who had packed the Senate's balconies.
After the measure failed last year by one vote in the Senate, many gay-rights activists directed their anger at Microsoft Corp., which had dropped its support for the bill. The company eventually urged passage after months of criticism.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
so, what are they getting? what are their new rights?
It's not good to support people's delusions.
So a health or life insurance company cannot consider the high-risk lifestyle of many homos as a factor in whether to insure or at what level, while smokers, the sedentary, skydivers, etc. must answer for their decisions? Absolute insanity!
To proclaim anywhere, anyime what they like to do with thier penis.
Fraudorie says she will sign it as soon at it arrives at her desk.
As early as tomorrow.
"We don't choose who we love. The heart chooses who we will love,"
Is this a country music thread?
Seriously, when are both coasts scheduled to drop off into the ocean?
"The measure adds sexual orientation to a state law banning discrimination in housing, employment and insurance on the basis of race, gender, age, disability, religion, marital status and other factors. Sixteen states have passed similar laws."
Wonder what 'other factors' means? Was the bill written so vague? Seems like a pretty silly thing to do, since our bill of rights already gives them these guarantees.
It's a way for the commie pols to help bankrupt legitimate businesses. The gay issue is window dressing.
This law cannot be considered constitutional, and will hopefully be overturned.
Is there any exception for religious organizations on the basis of religious beliefs?
I hope you're right, but sixteen states!? While progress is being made on one front (state constitutional amendments) it seems the opposition finds a back door through legislation such as this. I'm getting a bit pessimistic.
Seattle-Times:
Supporters said the bill is needed to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination. Discrimination in areas of employment, housing, finance and public accommodation.
State law bans discrimination based on race, sex, religion, marital status, disability and other categories. The bill would add sexual orientation to that list.
The statewide measure would allow people, for the first time, to sue in state court, where damages could be more lucrative.
I'm sure the lawyers in this town are doing backflips tonight.
Boeing moved a big chunk of its operations out of Washington because it was tired of bring forced to fund King County liberals' social experiments.
I can't wait to move outta here.....and I was born here over 50 years ago....
This is just way to get legislation on the books so they can push for gay marriage sooner. This is what this is really about.
These initiatives are being passed almost exclusively in blue states with large urban population centers. The support is city-based, not state based.
It's hard, but we've got to keep the faith.
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