6/7/2006

The proponents of Referendum 65, which would have repealed the State's first LGBT anti-discrimination bill, failed to collect enough signatures to make the ballot. The LGBT anti-discrimination bill became law as of June 7, 2006. Washington is now the 17th State in the US to protect its LGBT residents from discrimination. Read the Statement from Barbara Green, Interim Executive Director of ERW. Our congratulations to Washington Won't Discriminate and everyone who fought against the referendum.

2/10/2006

Almost immediately after the historic passage of anti-discrimination legislation in our state a referendum and an initiative were filed to repeal the new law. If enough signatures are collected for either or both, then these fundamental protections for the LGBT community will be on the ballot in November. A new campaign, called Washington Won’t Discriminate, has been organized to defeat the referendum and the initiative. The campaign includes the LGBT community across the state as well as a broad-based coalition with communities of color, the religious community, business leaders, the women's community, labor, the disability community and a wide range of fair-minded people who do not believe in discrimination of any kind. ERW is taking a lead role in this campaign and will be working in a coordinated effort across the state to defend our rights to equal treatment.

1/27/2006

Victory!!! Today Washington became the 17th state in the nation with an anti-discrimination law that covers sexual orientation. This is a huge political victory: the culmination of 30 years of hard work by community activists and allies. Tonight we celebrate this hard-fought win, and tomorrow we begin preparing for the fight to come.

Equal Rights Washington worked with supporters around the state: generating thousands of phone calls, emails, and legislative visits from constituents; employing lobbyists who worked tirelessly on our behalf; partnering with RCE for a successful Equality Day; briefing lawmakers on our polling results; and reaching out to educate the public.

Now we must protect our victory against any attempt by the radical right to repeal the bill. We must move forward to full equality.

Thank you, ERW members! Your hard work advocating for HB 2661 helped make this victory possible. Congratulations to everyone in Washington who worked so hard for so long to make this day a reality.

ERW has created a fact sheet dispelling some of the myths and correcting mis-statements about LGBT discrimination and anti-discrimination legislation. (download as .pdf for distribution and printing)