CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
The Washington State house of representatives has passed a gay civil rights bill that bans discrimination in housing, employment, and financial transactions. The bill, which defines sexual orientation as "heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, and gender expression or identity," sailed through the Democratic-controlled house, 59-39, on Monday, but it faces a big hurdle in the Republican-controlled senate. Still, openly gay state representative Ed Murray said he's cautiously optimistic that Washington will become the 14th state with a nondiscrimination law that includes gays and lesbians. Similar legislation has passed the house twice before, most recently in 1994, but died in the senate. Murray and openly gay state representative Joe McDermott were the bill's primary sponsors. "This is my best day in the legislature," said Murray, 47, a nine-year veteran who chairs the powerful house transportation committee. His partner, Michael Shiosaki, attended the debate. "This is one of the biggest votes I've ever taken and the one that made me the proudest," McDermott said in an interview. "The signs in the shop windows used to say, 'Irish need not apply.' I was thinking about that the other day when I was signing papers to buy a house with my boyfriend--and thinking that they could just reject the whole thing after seeing two gay men sign the papers." Representatives Jim Moeller and Dave Upthegrove are the house's other openly gay members. The four failed to gain even committee approval of a proposal to authorize same-sex civil unions this session, but they had better luck with the civil rights measure, which is endorsed by Gov. Gary Locke and many religious and civic leaders. Murray framed the legislation in historical civil rights terms. He said he is the descendant of Irish immigrants in Grays Harbor County and that Shiosaki's Japanese ancestors helped build the railroads. Immigrants withstood hardship and discrimination but stayed in America "because of the possibility of equality and fairness," he said. "Some of our citizens, whether because of the color of their skin or their religious beliefs or because they were women, were not treated fairly. Our century just past is a century filled with tragedy because of a lack of understanding of differences. In this early part of our new century, we have an opportunity to take a small step to write a new future."
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
21+ steamy photos of Scotland’s finest gay men in Elska Glasgow
February 01 2024 10:07 PM
More Than 50 of Our Favorite LGBTQ+ Moms
May 12 2024 11:44 AM
Conjoined twins Lori Schappell and trans man George Schappell dead at 62
April 27 2024 6:13 PM
Latest Stories
Joe Biden sends queer lawmakers & LGBTQ+ allies to Paris Olympics
July 24 2024 12:08 PM
Kamala Harris rides wave of Democratic energy at kickoff event in Wisconsin
July 23 2024 3:36 PM
'Devastated:' A six-week abortion ban will go into effect in Iowa next week
July 23 2024 2:28 PM
Four hours, 44,000 Black women, and one Zoom call
July 23 2024 2:17 PM
Record 1.2 million people show out for Cologne’s Pride parade
July 23 2024 10:51 AM
Here's how far-right activist Leonard Leo helped fund Bud Light boycott
July 23 2024 10:27 AM