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Tuesday, January 31, 2006 · Last updated 10:34 a.m. PT
Gregoire signs Civil Rights Act into law
Landmark legislation extends protections to gays and lesbians
It's official. Gov. Christine Gregoire has signed into law the landmark legislation that expands the Washington Civil Rights Act to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination in employment, housing and lending.
“I am proud that finally, after far too many years, the State of Washington has taken an affirmative stand to say to gay and lesbian individuals, moms and dads, sons and daughters, neighbors, co-workers and friends, living in Washington State that they are, like all other people, free to work in an environment absent discrimination,” the governor said in a prepared statement.
The Senate passed the legislation Friday in a 25-23 roll-call vote that ended nearly 30 years of debate over the issue. Gregoire signed the legislation this morning.
Critics called the legislation unnecessary, and for-profit initiative sponsor Tim Eyman has promised to start a signature drive to overturn the legislation.
In her signing speech, Gregoire thanked Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, who has long pushed for the legislation.
“Rep. Murray worked 11 long, hard years to see this day,” she said. “Ed, on behalf of all the citizens of our great state, thank you, for your perseverance, strength and commitment.”
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