<p>After thirty years, sexual orientation has finally been added to Washington states anti-discrimination laws. Kind of hard to believe it took so long.</p>
<p>A lot of people have worked extremely hard on this issue for many years, but perhaps nobody has played a larger role in its passage than the Rev. Ken Hutcherson, whose ham-fisted grandstanding in the wake of the bills close defeat last year was crucial in creating the blowback that ultimately led to Sen. Bill Finkbeiner voting his conscience.</p>
<p>Big, big day - and it never would have happened without Rev. Hutcherson, who demonstrated, in a big way, the need for such legislation. Companies will no longer be able to be blackmailed by him - it’s the law, and they’ll have to follow it.</p>
<p>How about the rights of religious groups with a preference for polygamy? Oh, that’s right the gay civil rights crowd would find polygamy to be a sin (or whatever is the equivalent in gay rights land).</p>
<p>razor-
do you think someone should be discriminated against- that is can be fired or evicted because his or her employer or landlord finds out that he or she is homosexual?</p>
I personally would not discriminate in that manner. I think most people agree with me. The real question is whether we need government creating a special status for gay citizens? I think the answer is “no”. I just don’t see a whole lot of examples where people are fired or evicted because of sexual orientation. If you say that the answer is “yes”, then I must ask why stop at giving special rights to homosexuals. Shouldn’t discrimination against poorly dressed individuals, left handed persons, lawyers, dentists, people with annoying voices, fat people, etc. also be prohibited by law. </p>
<p>And where does this no dicrimination against sexual orientation end? Will governments and courts be prohibited from considering sexual orientation when deciding whether gay couples can adopt? If so, are you going to tell me that it is an irrelevant consideration when two males wish to adopt a little girl as compared to a male and a female adopting a little girl? Can you tell me the little girl would grow up the same (all other things being equal with the exception of gender preference)? </p>
<p>I think our society can figure this stuff out without the need for a governmental preference that may have untended consequences.</p>
<p>Funny, what’s ordinary civil rights for everyone else becomes “special status” when it involves gays. Maybe they’re sub-human or something, I dunno.</p>
<p>Was going to write out a longer explanation, but he said it better. </p>
<p>As for parental gender… I was raised by my dad from age 2 onwards. Bra shopping probably would have been better with a mom, but, notwithstanding one day of my life, the most important thing was that all of the growing up “stuff” was with a parent who loves me. At least you are certain that gays want to be parents - kind of hard for them to have an “oops” child. :p</p>
<p>do you think someone should be discriminated against- that is can be fired or evicted because his or her employer or landlord finds out that he or she is homosexual?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Thats wonderful that you would not find that someones sexual orientation is reason to fire them from their job, or to evict them, however, 16 other states found justification to need a law to prevent someone from doing so.</p>
<p>If there was no discrimation, we wouldn’t need laws, but there is discrimination
.
So people need protection</p>
<p>Its amazing what people forget about the past- and take for granted the rights THEY have. Just because you personally do not discriminate, does not mean it does not happen in very incidius ways.</p>
<p>I worry when people close their eyes to what happens to other people. </p>
<p>This country didn’t give women many rights for decades, and we have been allowed to vote for less then 100 years. </p>
<p>Interracial marriage was banned</p>
<p>African Americans couldn’t rent apartments, or get loans for a house or even shown a house</p>
<p>THis country, this democracy, has a history of discrimination. And unless laws are made, it will continue.</p>
<p>If you can choose not to hire someone because they are gay, what does that say about you as a human. Are people so concerned about what happens in the privacy of a bedroom, so focused on personal matter, they aren’t mature enough to not worry about it, and are not confident enough in themselves that they don’t want a gay person around. </p>
<p>It astounds me, and saddens me that in 2005 that it is necessary to pass laws to try and get people to treat each other with decency, but alas it is.</p>
<p>Discrimination based on sexual preferences is obviously wrong, but it is fact that we are constantly measured for performance, character, as well as for our individual choices. Not everyone uses the same measuring tape, as the very close result of the vote indicates.</p>
<p>FWIW, I find my self agreing with CGM as she says “Its amazing what people forget about the past.” Can we go as far as the Rise and Fall of Ancient Greece and Rome for some historical perspective?</p>
<p>the very close vote indicates that there is still discrimination and intolerance in the populace and the legislators are aware of that and dont want to lose support from voters who think it is ok to deny someone housing if they are two gay parents or to fire somone if they bring their same sex partner to a holiday work party.</p>