Washington Passes Gay Rights Bill, Protestors Plan Pro-Family Rally
Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006
Posted: 10:16:30AM EST

Lawmakers in the state of Washington passed a gay rights bill Friday that would add sexual orientation to a state law banning discrimination in housing employment and insurance based on gender, religion, and other factors.

The bill passed the Senate with a 25 – 23 vote, with one Republican joining Democrats in voting in favor. The House approved it 61 to 37, and Democratic Governor Chris Gregoire said she would sign it on Tuesday. "We don't choose who we love. The heart chooses who we will love," said the lone Republican senator, Bill Finkbeiner. "And I don't believe that it is right for us to say … that it's acceptable to discriminate against people because of that."

While gay rights activists applauded the measure, which would make Washington the 17th state with laws banning discrimination on the basis of sexual preference, others warned that the law would “trample unrelentingly” on religious viewpoints that object to homosexuality. "

We, the state, are telling people to accept, actually to embrace, something that goes against their religious views," said Sen. Dan Swecker (R- Rochester). Story