Gregoire signs gay-civil-rights bill

OLYMPIA — Gov. Christine Gregoire signed a gay-civil-rights bill into law Tuesday, though the law may be held in limbo if opponents are successful in forcing a public vote this fall.

Nearly 200 people gave Gregoire, and bill sponsor Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, a standing ovation, as Murray waved the pen that signed the measure that adds "sexual orientation" to a state law that bans discrimination in housing, employment, insurance and credit.

"It's a joyful, emotional moment," said Murray, one of four gay lawmakers in the Legislature. "It's a moment to celebrate after a very long struggle."

Signing of the bill, passed by the Legislature on Friday, makes Washington the 17th state passing such laws covering gays and lesbians, and the seventh to protect transgender people.

The law will take effect in June, 90 days after the end of the Legislature's session, but if initiative promoter Tim Eyman is able to get enough signatures by the June 7 deadline for a referendum, the law will be frozen until a November vote.

Eyman also is pushing an initiative that would, in addition to removing "sexual orientation" from the law, prohibit state government from requiring quotas or other preferential treatment for any person or group "based on sexual orientation or sexual preference."

After approval in the House, the measure passed the Senate on Friday on a 25-23 vote, a major victory for gay-rights activists who have watched the measure fail in the Legislature for nearly 30 years.

Sen. Bill Finkbeiner, R-Kirkland, was the sole Senate Republican to back the measure, a year after it lost by just one vote in the Senate. Two Senate Democrats voted against the measure. One Republican was not present.

Republicans amended the bill on the House floor to say that it would not modify or change state marriage laws.

The state Supreme Court heard arguments on a case challenging Washington's ban on gay marriage last year, and a ruling is expected in coming weeks.

A Senate amendment last week also added a caveat saying the state doesn't endorse "any specific belief, practice, behavior, or orientation."