[Vision2020] Gay Rights Bill Clears House

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (January 21, 2006) Spokesman Review -

 

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Gay rights bill clears House 

Eastern Washington Republicans protest; proponents see best chance of Senate
passage

How they voted 

Yes: Rep. Alex Wood, D-Spokane; Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane.

 

No: Rep. Larry Crouse, R-Spokane Valley; Rep. Lynn Schindler, R-Otis
Orchards; Rep. John Serben, R-Spokane; Rep. John Ahern, R-Spokane; Rep. Bob
Sump, R-Republic; Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda; Rep. Don Cox, R-Colfax; Rep.
David Buri, R-Colfax.

 

 

Richard Roesler

Staff writer

January 21, 2006

 

OLYMPIA - Over the objections of many Eastern Washington Republicans, the
state House of Representatives voted 60 to 37 on Friday to ban
discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and people changing their
gender.

 

"This discrimination is a reality," said Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, one of
four openly gay lawmakers and prime sponsor of the bill.

 

"Do not betray America's principle of equal justice for all by pretending
that 'all' means 'some,' " Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, D-Seattle, urged
the House.

 

Republicans - most of whom voted against the bill - said they don't condone
bigotry or hatred. But they said they fear the bill will force people to
hire or house people whose behavior they disagree with.

 

"It uses the coercive power of the state for the aim of not only promoting
but forcing the general acceptance of homosexual and lesbian lifestyles,"
said Rep. Don Cox, R-Colfax. Instead of leading to love, tolerance and
understanding, he said, the bill overreaches and "leads to intimidation."

 

This is the 11th year in a row that Murray has proposed the change, and the
fourth time it's been approved by his House colleagues. The real
battleground, however, has been the state Senate. For years, conservative
senators ignored the bill, leaving it to die in committee. Last year, with
Democrats in control, the bill made it to the Senate floor, but failed by a
single vote.

 

This year, proponents hope, Olympia will finally add sexual orientation to
the long list - race, nationality, gender and more - for which it is illegal
to discriminate. 

 

The bill covers employment, housing, insurance and financial dealings.
Complaints would be handled by the state Human Rights Commission, which can
investigate and take matters before an administrative law judge.

 

Republicans on Friday repeatedly tried to tack amendments onto the bill.
Rep. Lynn Schindler, R-Otis Orchards, wanted to exempt small businesses.
Rep. John Ahern, R-Spokane, wanted to exempt groups like the Boy Scouts from
the bill. Under court precedents, Rep. Jim Moeller said, such groups would
be exempted.

 

"This amendment is an amendment in search of a problem," the Vancouver
Democrat said of Ahern's attempt.

 

Rep. John Serben, R-Spokane, tried to require the bill to go before voters
in November. He pointed out that voters previously rejected such a change.

 

"Let them have their say once again," he said.

 

Democrats said that the issue should be decided by the Legislature.

 

"We cannot punt this over to voters," said Rep. Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle.
"We have got to take the leadership and action, right here and right now."

 

Gov. Christine Gregoire, in the House sidelines shortly before debate began,
agreed.

 

"These people got elected," she said, referring to lawmakers. "These people
know what the values of this state are."

 

The only Republican amendment that succeeded - with Democratic help - was
one stating that the change "shall not be construed to modify or supersede
state law relating to marriage."

 

"This in no way creates any precedent, basis or right to same-sex marriage,"
said Rep. Gigi Talcott, R-Tacoma.

 

It may not matter. Gay and lesbian couples are challenging Washington's ban
on gay marriage in the state Supreme Court, and the high court is expected
to rule before the session ends March 9.

 

How they voted:

 

Yes: 

Rep. Alex Wood, D-Spokane

Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane.

 

No:

Rep. Larry Crouse, R-Spokane Valley

Rep. Lynn Schindler, R-Otis Orchards

Rep. John Serben, R-Spokane

Rep. John Ahern, R-Spokane

Rep. Bob Sump, R-Republic

Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda

Rep. Don Cox, R-Colfax

Rep. David Buri, R-Colfax.

 

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Take care, Moscow.

 

Tom Hansen

Moscow, Idaho

 

"If not us, who?
If not now, when?"

- Unknown

 

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