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
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
30 Steamy Photos of Folsom Street Fair 2023 Debauchery
October 15 2023 11:06 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
60 Burly Pics from Bearrison Street Fair 2022
October 08 2023 8:30 PM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
White House calls Republican spending bill’s ban on the Pride flag ‘inappropriate’
March 25 2024 8:17 PM
Plus
Yahoo FeedSexual Assault Survivor Stephen Hart Uses Theater to Heal
March 25 2024 5:55 PM
Neo-Nazis suspected of killing 72-year-old gay man after escaping from prison
March 25 2024 3:58 PM