[Vision2020] straight woman's civil rights complaint-WA state

[Debbie Gray]

Interesting case to watch...  Now if we had a
universal health care system of some sort, nobody's
partner would have to worry about health care coverage
=)

Debbie Gray

Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 12:00 AM
Seattle Times
Straight woman's civil rights complaint brings complex
questions

By Curt Woodward
The Associated Press

OLYMPIA – One of the first tests for Washington
state's new gay civil rights law has an intriguing
twist: The complaint was filed by a heterosexual
woman.

The state's discrimination watchdogs are investigating
the case, which claims unmarried straight people
should get the same domestic partner benefits as their
gay and lesbian co-workers.

But officials are treading carefully, Human Rights
Commission Director Marc Brenman said, because
upholding the claim could set a sweeping new precedent
for Washington businesses.

"We have to proceed very, very cautiously because we
could be creating new policy for employers and other
entities in the state," Brenman said Tuesday.

The complaint, filed last week, is one of four that
have spawned full-fledged investigations under the
sexual orientation section of Washington's
antidiscrimination law.

It was signed by Sandi Scott-Moore, a Redmond-based
employee of manufacturer Honeywell International.
Scott-Moore claims health insurance coverage for her
male partner was denied because the unmarried couple
is not of the same gender.

Scott-Moore did not return phone messages seeking
comment about the complaint, which The Associated
Press obtained through a state open records request.

Honeywell spokesman Robert Ferris said the company
does provide health benefits for the partners of its
gay and lesbian employees and has a zero-tolerance
stand on discrimination. But the company disagrees
with Scott-Moore, he said in a statement.

"We believe the claim filed with the Washington State
Human Rights Commission is without merit and plan to
vigorously defend our position," Ferris wrote.

The state law at issue was expanded earlier this year,
when state lawmakers added sexual orientation to an
existing law that prohibits discrimination in housing,
employment, lending and insurance. It went into effect
in July.

The measure was aimed squarely at protecting
Washington's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
residents. But its language is broader, banning any
discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Joseph Fuiten, chairman of the conservative Faith and
Freedom Network, said opponents of the gay rights
measure predicted scenarios such as the
Honeywell-related complaint.

"(Gays and lesbians) basically said, 'Treat us fair,
treat us the same as everybody else,"' Fuiten said. "I
don't know how you're going to get around treating
heterosexuals the same."

Brenman said the commission has been deliberate with
the Honeywell complaint, including outreach to state
pension and insurance regulators and planned meetings
with private businesses to discuss the policy
implications.

"In order to finish the investigation, we're going to
have to figure out what the policy is," Brenman said.
He added: "There's a big controversy about this, and
we're going to have to work through it."

Jennifer Pizer, a lawyer for the gay-rights firm
Lambda Legal, said similar cases have been raised
elsewhere without much success. But the group
generally supports efforts that are aimed at ending
discrimination, she said.

"It's marital status discrimination. You're telling
people, in essence, they will be paid less" because
they can't get the same benefits, Pizer said.

The three other complaints being investigated under
the law, according to records provided by the
commission:

—Harborview Medical Center security guard Tyler
Joseph Miller, who said he was harassed on the job
because he is openly gay. A Harborview spokeswoman
declined to discuss personnel issues but said the
hospital thoroughly investigates discrimination
claims.

—Van Ethan Levy, who said he quit a job at Olympia's
Best Buy store because of harassment over his
female-to-male transgender status. A spokeswoman for
the retailer declined specific comment but said the
company does not tolerate discrimination.

—An unfair housing allegation from G. Jane
Spencer-Watkins, who said she was harassed and evicted
from a Gig Harbor RV park because she is transgender.
A manager at the park declined comment, and a message
left for a property manager was not immediately
returned.

Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company


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