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Gay rights bill passes in Legislature
Amid celebration, governor promises to sign law Tuesday
By CHRIS McGANN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
OLYMPIA -- The Senate today voted 25-23 to approve a gay rights bill and ended the debate over legislation that emerged in Washington the same year singer Anita Bryant began her "Save Our Children" crusade against such protections.
The House quickly concurred by a 61-37 vote, and Gov. Chris Gregoire said she planned to sign the bill into law Tuesday.
The bill would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, lending and employment.
Twenty four of 26 Senate Democrats were joined by one Republican and approved the bill with a one-vote majority.
Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, has championed the legislation for a decade. The openly gay legislator, who waited in the wings for the vote, embraced his partner as the clerk read the vote count.
"I'm very happy," Murray said. "It's a moment of joy."
Democrats said the bill was about preventing discrimination.
A tearful Majority Leader Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, uncorked champagne in her office to celebrate the occasion.
"The rights of the minority must always be protected," said Sen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma. But polarized views on homosexuality drove emotional debate that was almost identical to that which preceded the vote last year -- when the bill failed by one vote.
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Sen. Bill Finkbeiner, R-Kirkland, reversed his previous position to turn the tide this year.
"This has been a terribly difficult issue for me," said Finkbeiner as he explained his change of heart.
"What we are really talking about here is...whether or not it's OK to be gay or homosexual in this state. On whether or not it's appropriate to be discriminating against or to discriminate against someone because of that."
He said being gay or lesbian isn't a choice.
"People don't choose this. We don't choose who we love, the heart chooses who we love," Finkbeiner said.
"I don't believe that it is right ... to say that it's acceptable to discriminate against people because of that , because of who their heart chooses to love. I can not stand with that argument."
The rest of the Republicans argued that it promoted immoral behavior, undermined religious freedom and could be seen as Legislative endorsement of gay marriage.
Sen. Bob Oke, R- Port Orchard, said his daughter is a lesbian. He said though the issue has been a long-standing point of conflict in his family but he held his position on the issue and voted against the bill.
"That's called tough love," Oke said.
"I believe homosexuality is morally wrong," Oke said. "The Bible is very clear on this."
Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester said "discrimination against anyone unacceptable, and it's is wrong."
"Unfortunately the bill before us today is not the magic tool that will end discrimination in our state," he said. "In reality it takes us in the opposite direction.
"The bill would trample religious freedom for those who believe homosexuality is wrong," Swecker said. "The bill before us today it not one that will unite us.
"The passage of this legislation puts us on a slippery slope towards gay marriage..."The two are linked...are any of us naive enough to think the court won't take notice?"
Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington, said it is "a sad day for Washington."
Friday afternoon by cell phone, Gov. Christine Gregoire told Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, she plans to sign the bill Tuesday morning.
Gregoire introduced the legislation this year and has been urging the Legislature to deliver the bill to her desk so she can sign it into law as soon as possible.
Amid celebration, governor promises to sign law Tuesday
By CHRIS McGANN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
OLYMPIA -- The Senate today voted 25-23 to approve a gay rights bill and ended the debate over legislation that emerged in Washington the same year singer Anita Bryant began her "Save Our Children" crusade against such protections.
The House quickly concurred by a 61-37 vote, and Gov. Chris Gregoire said she planned to sign the bill into law Tuesday.
The bill would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, lending and employment.
Twenty four of 26 Senate Democrats were joined by one Republican and approved the bill with a one-vote majority.
Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, has championed the legislation for a decade. The openly gay legislator, who waited in the wings for the vote, embraced his partner as the clerk read the vote count.
"I'm very happy," Murray said. "It's a moment of joy."
Democrats said the bill was about preventing discrimination.
A tearful Majority Leader Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, uncorked champagne in her office to celebrate the occasion.
"The rights of the minority must always be protected," said Sen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma. But polarized views on homosexuality drove emotional debate that was almost identical to that which preceded the vote last year -- when the bill failed by one vote.
advertising
Click to learn more...
Sen. Bill Finkbeiner, R-Kirkland, reversed his previous position to turn the tide this year.
"This has been a terribly difficult issue for me," said Finkbeiner as he explained his change of heart.
"What we are really talking about here is...whether or not it's OK to be gay or homosexual in this state. On whether or not it's appropriate to be discriminating against or to discriminate against someone because of that."
He said being gay or lesbian isn't a choice.
"People don't choose this. We don't choose who we love, the heart chooses who we love," Finkbeiner said.
"I don't believe that it is right ... to say that it's acceptable to discriminate against people because of that , because of who their heart chooses to love. I can not stand with that argument."
The rest of the Republicans argued that it promoted immoral behavior, undermined religious freedom and could be seen as Legislative endorsement of gay marriage.
Sen. Bob Oke, R- Port Orchard, said his daughter is a lesbian. He said though the issue has been a long-standing point of conflict in his family but he held his position on the issue and voted against the bill.
"That's called tough love," Oke said.
"I believe homosexuality is morally wrong," Oke said. "The Bible is very clear on this."
Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester said "discrimination against anyone unacceptable, and it's is wrong."
"Unfortunately the bill before us today is not the magic tool that will end discrimination in our state," he said. "In reality it takes us in the opposite direction.
"The bill would trample religious freedom for those who believe homosexuality is wrong," Swecker said. "The bill before us today it not one that will unite us.
"The passage of this legislation puts us on a slippery slope towards gay marriage..."The two are linked...are any of us naive enough to think the court won't take notice?"
Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington, said it is "a sad day for Washington."
Friday afternoon by cell phone, Gov. Christine Gregoire told Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, she plans to sign the bill Tuesday morning.
Gregoire introduced the legislation this year and has been urging the Legislature to deliver the bill to her desk so she can sign it into law as soon as possible.
