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Monday, January 30, 2006 · Last updated 2:04 p.m. PT
Eyman steps into gay rights debate
The debate over gay rights in Washington state may not be over.
Initiative promoter Tim Eyman on Monday filed two ballot measures putting new gay civil-rights protections before Washington voters.
On Friday, the state Senate passed a measure that would outlaw discrimination against gays and lesbians in employment, housing or lending. Gov. Christine Gregoire is expected to sign the bill this week.
Friday's 25-23 roll call vote in the Senate was a countdown to victory for gay rights advocates who have fought long and hard to pass the anti-discrimination legislation. The bill expands the Washington Civil Rights Act, which protects minorities from discrimination based on race, religion, gender and disabilities.
However, it would not on its own give gays and lesbians the right to marry. Conservatives argue that homosexuals have never face faced the institutional discrimination that those others groups have faced, and so the legislax tion was unnecessary.
On Monday, Eyman said: "The people oppose important public policy changes being made without voter approval. The voters want an open debate where both sides are given the opportunity to have their voices heard and to persuade the voters on the issues involved. And after months of deliberation and discussion, the voters want to have the final say so that the decision can be made without fear of retaliation or intimidation."
Eyman is a controversial, for-profit initiative backer who has sponsored numerous measures over the years - including one that reduced the state's vehicle tabs to $30.
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