One less pain on the ballot

Washington voters knew exactly what to do with petitions supporting an unnecessary referendum aimed at nullifying a simple and fair gay rights law. They declined to sign.

Their noncompliance sends a profound message: Our state does not need the divisive campaign that would have accompanied the referendum. Granted, it is unusual for the media to focus attention on a referendum proposal that did not succeed. Numerous initiatives and referendums are filed every year that go nowhere. But this was not an ordinary proposal. It was designed to get out the vote for Republicans and stir mean-spirited sentiments on gay rights.

The law the referendum sought to overturn is neither daring nor revolutionary. It provides basic and reasonable protection of gays and lesbians in housing, employment and finance.

Such protections may not be used every day but it is better to have a law on the books for occasions when discrimination does occur.

Washington is a live-and-let-live state. The voters represented themselves well by steering clear of a shortsighted referendum. The gay-rights law will take effect and the Earth will still turn on its axis.

The U.S. Senate, by contrast, could not help itself. The Senate Wednesday rejected a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage but Republican leaders said they would take it up in the House, possibly next month. They ought to give it up.

The Senate's rejection was anticipated. Yet lawmakers willfully are wasting time and taxpayer money by participating in a politicized ritual of voting on a heated issue.

Most lawmakers understand it is foolhardy to tamper with the Constitution, especially on something as off base as writing discrimination against a group of citizens into a cherished document.

Voters in our state did themselves a favor by avoiding the rancor associated with gay rights. Declining to sign is a smart way to uphold intrinsic Washington values of fairness and equality.