Washington State Human Rights Commission

NEWS RELEASE
For further information contact:
Seth Kirby
Program Specialist 3
skirby@hum.wa.gov
360/ 586-3413

After the 2006 Legislative session, Governor Chris Gregoire signed ESHB 2661 into law, making nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, including gender identity, the law in Washington State. The new law became effective as of June 7, 2006. The Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) views this new jurisdiction as a natural extension of civil rights.

The WSHRC enforces the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), which prohibits discrimination in employment (employers with eight of more employees), housing, places of public accommodation, and credit and insurance transactions, on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, including gender identity, marital status, age (over 40), the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, retaliation for opposing an unfair practice, filing a whistleblower complaint with the Washington State Auditor, or filing a nursing home abuse complaint.

In Washington State, employment is the basis under which most people file discrimination complaints. The WSHRC is being proactive in implementing this new jurisdiction. Visit www.hum.wa.gov for a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the duty of employers under the WLAD.

In addition, the WSHRC has developed an innovative guide, Self-Assessment Checklist for Compliance and Suggested Best Practices. The checklist is a free, practical tool for employers and others who want to learn and do more about how to be in compliance the WLAD and the new sexual orientation and gender identity jurisdiction. The checklist is the first of its kind in the nation and the WSHRC is proud to have this opportunity. Copies can be obtained by calling the WSHRC or by visiting the Sexual Orientation portion of our website.

Current members of the Board of Commissioners are Kathy Baros Friedt, Commission Chair, Olympia; Ellis Casson, Seattle; Deborah Sioux Cano-Lee, Olympia; Jerry Hebert, Kitsap County; and, Shawn Marinko, Spokane. The Executive Director of the WSHRC is Marc Brenman.

The WSHRC has offices in Olympia, Seattle, Spokane, Yakima, and Vancouver. For further information and to request training on the new jurisdiction, please visit the WSHRC website at www.hum.wa.gov or contact us at 1-800-233-3247 or TTY at 1-800-300-7525. Complaints can also be filed using our new online complaint form. The WSHRC can communicate in other languages, and accommodates people with disabilities.

The WSHRC looks forward to any feedback about how use of the checklist works in your place of employment and other organization.

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