Earlier this year the Washington State Legislature passed a bill baring discrimination of gays and lesbians in: housing, employment, insurance and credit.
Washington voters can file a petition to have most laws put to a vote in the next general election. Tim Eyman just tried that and failed to get enough signatures. He was only able to get 105,000 sigs vs 112,000 needed.
The law goes into effect today. Washington state # 17 in the nation to have such protections in place.
Gov. Christine Gregoire, in prepared remarks, said that when the gay rights legislation becomes law today it "will be a proud day in Washington. In January, Washington took an affirmative stand to say to gay and lesbian individuals, moms and dads, sons and daughters, neighbors, co-workers and friends that, like all other people, they are free to work in an environment absent of discrimination."
Eyman led news media to believe he had enough referendum signatures when he held a news conference in Olympia Monday, but he showed up dressed in a Darth Vader costume but with no petitions. He gloated later about how he had duped reporters.
I personally wanted this referendum to die (just as it did), and Eyman who lead the parade to show how much of a ass he really is (and he proved it with the Darth Vader costume).
News articles:
Seattle P-I
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/...
King County Journal
http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/...
Comming up next: Washington State Supreme Court ruling on Gay and Lesbian marriage.....