What will it take for state lawmakers to stop dithering over the common-sense, anti-gay-discrimination bill and pass it into law?

Senate Republicans, joined by two conservative Democrats, maneuvered to keep the bill from reaching the Senate floor, where it likely would pass.

House Bill 1515 would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, lending, renting and home buying. The legislation passed the House by a strong margin and is ready to go in the Senate. But Senate Republicans keep trying to turn it into something it is not.

The bill is not about gay marriage. It does not confer special rights on gays and lesbians.

Democratic Sens. Jim Hargrove of Hoquiam and Tim Sheldon of Potlatch joined Republicans in a procedural move that sent the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee. They did so knowing there are sufficient votes to prevent the bill from returning to the Senate floor.

The bill has bounced around the Legislature in different forms for more than two decades. It is easier to play political games than face the reality of discrimination against gays in many parts of the state.

State law already bans discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, gender, marital status and mental or physical handicap. This bill, simply and fairly, adds sexual orientation to the list.

But Senate Republicans refuse to see the bill for what it is. State Sen. Luke Esser, R-Bellevue, worries the bill could open the door for gay marriage. This legislation has nothing to do with gay marriage and Esser should know that.

GOP talking points explaining the maneuver raised the age-old, wrong-headed idea that gays and lesbians choose their sexual orientation. One talking point said: "This bill establishes minority status for individuals based on sexual behaviors many believe they choose to engage in."

There they go again.

Senate Republicans and sidekicks Hargrove and Sheldon ought to stop playing games with a serious topic. Passage of HB 1515 is way overdue.