Gay Rights and Real Estate

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire signed into law today House Bill 2661, the so-called "gay rights" bill. Washington becomes the 17th state to protect gays and lesbians and the seventh to also protect transgender people. The law will less directly affect the lives of many others in the state, including real estate agents.

State law now bans discrimination in real estate transactions, employment, public accommodations, insurance and commerce based on race; color; religion; national origin; gender; the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability; or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal.

In today's signing ceremony, Gov. Gregoire said:

In my State of the State address last month, I said that we must see ourselves through history’s lens. A generation from now, citizens will wonder what took us so long. They’ll see this law for what it is: A natural extension of our values as Washingtonians: The values of fairness, of justice, and of opportunity.

Shortly after the bill became law, for-profit initiative sponsor Tim Eyman filed an initiative that would negate the law's provisions, if it gets onto the ballot and is approved by voters this fall.

Full story from The Olympian
Full story from The Seattle P-I