Seattle P-I: Anti-bias law on gender identity passed in King County
March 28, 2006
With an eye on an impending drive to overturn the state's new gay rights law, the King County Council on Monday added gender identity to its list of characteristics protected from discrimination.
"This is just another step in bringing equal justice under law to all citizens," Councilman Dow Constantine, D-Seattle, said before joining the 5-4 party line vote to approve the ordinance. County Executive Ron Sims supports the measure and is likely to sign it.
The vote brings county ordinances in line with a 2006 state law that bars discrimination against gays, lesbians or transgendered individuals in employment, housing or lending. The county previously prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation; the new measure extends protection over gender identity, as in the state law.
"This is just another step in bringing equal justice under law to all citizens," Councilman Dow Constantine, D-Seattle, said before joining the 5-4 party line vote to approve the ordinance. County Executive Ron Sims supports the measure and is likely to sign it.
The vote brings county ordinances in line with a 2006 state law that bars discrimination against gays, lesbians or transgendered individuals in employment, housing or lending. The county previously prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation; the new measure extends protection over gender identity, as in the state law.
Seattle Times: Democrats favor transgender discrimination ban
March 21, 2006
The Democratic majority on the Metropolitan King County Council appears ready to adopt an ordinance that would prohibit discrimination against transgender people.
Supporters say they want to send a message that Washington's most populous county opposes an initiative and a referendum proposed by Tim Eyman to overturn a new state law protecting sexual minorities.
County law already bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. So if state voters repeal the gay-rights law recently approved by the state Legislature, the proposed county ordinance would protect the rights of gays, lesbians and transgender people in employment, housing and public accommodations.
Supporters say they want to send a message that Washington's most populous county opposes an initiative and a referendum proposed by Tim Eyman to overturn a new state law protecting sexual minorities.
County law already bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. So if state voters repeal the gay-rights law recently approved by the state Legislature, the proposed county ordinance would protect the rights of gays, lesbians and transgender people in employment, housing and public accommodations.
Seattle Times: Opinion: Big issues are best left to the voters to decide
March 15, 2006
For nearly a decade, we've been consistent: Significant public policy decisions should be made by the voters. Whether it was a public vote on the sports stadiums, $30 vehicle tabs, performance audits, caps on property-tax increases, or a smaller King County Council, we've believed that voters, and not politicians, make better decisions. And whatever the result of the vote, the citizenry more readily accepts the ultimate decision when it is made by the voters.
Everyone agrees that House Bill 2661 is a significant, impactful public-policy decision. It takes a term that most of us are somewhat familiar with, "sexual orientation," and defines it in a unique way. Here's the definition as written in the bill: " 'Sexual orientation' means heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, and gender expression or identity. As used in this definition, 'gender expression or identity' means having or being perceived as having a gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression, whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the sex assigned to that person at birth."
Everyone agrees that House Bill 2661 is a significant, impactful public-policy decision. It takes a term that most of us are somewhat familiar with, "sexual orientation," and defines it in a unique way. Here's the definition as written in the bill: " 'Sexual orientation' means heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, and gender expression or identity. As used in this definition, 'gender expression or identity' means having or being perceived as having a gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression, whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the sex assigned to that person at birth."
The Columbian: Young Voices: Everyone has right to marriage, but why bother?
March 13, 2006
When people ask me what I think about same-sex marriage, or even marriage in general, I find it hard to answer. On one hand, I think that any two people who want to get married should be able to. But on the other hand, I'm against marriage all together.
Gay, straight, I don't care; marriage is an outdated, ancient practice that should have no place in a modern, civilized society. If you truly "love" somebody, why do you have to get approval from either your government or religious hierarchy? Just love them and be happy.
Gay, straight, I don't care; marriage is an outdated, ancient practice that should have no place in a modern, civilized society. If you truly "love" somebody, why do you have to get approval from either your government or religious hierarchy? Just love them and be happy.
Seattle P-I: Hutcherson and Sims mix it up on gay rights
March 3, 2006
The crowd was braced for a fight. They crammed into every available seat as a bank of video cameras trained their lenses on center stage.
Though sparks flew in the often heated exchange, onlookers were divided as to the victor in Thursday night's debate, pitting King County Executive Ron Sims against the Rev. Ken Hutcherson over the issue of gay rights' intersection with civil rights.
Simply put, Sims, who is the state's highest elected black official, believes discriminating against a person based on sexual orientation is only the latest incarnation of a decades-long struggle to protect the civil rights of minorities.
While Hutcherson, who also is black -- and raised in the segregated South -- finds such characterizations an insult.
Though sparks flew in the often heated exchange, onlookers were divided as to the victor in Thursday night's debate, pitting King County Executive Ron Sims against the Rev. Ken Hutcherson over the issue of gay rights' intersection with civil rights.
Simply put, Sims, who is the state's highest elected black official, believes discriminating against a person based on sexual orientation is only the latest incarnation of a decades-long struggle to protect the civil rights of minorities.
While Hutcherson, who also is black -- and raised in the segregated South -- finds such characterizations an insult.
Seattle Times: Council seeks ban on transgender bias
Five members of the King County Council introduced legislation Thursday that would ban discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
The ordinance sponsored by all five members of the council's Democratic majority matches language protecting transgendered persons in the gay-rights law passed in January by the Legislature.
Professional initiative sponsor Tim Eyman has filed an initiative that would overturn the state gay-rights law.
The new ordinance would forbid discrimination based on "gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression," that may or may not be "traditionally associated" with one's sex assigned at birth.
The ordinance sponsored by all five members of the council's Democratic majority matches language protecting transgendered persons in the gay-rights law passed in January by the Legislature.
Professional initiative sponsor Tim Eyman has filed an initiative that would overturn the state gay-rights law.
The new ordinance would forbid discrimination based on "gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression," that may or may not be "traditionally associated" with one's sex assigned at birth.
