Washington State Human Rights Commission
Date: April 23, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Seth Kirby, (360) 586-3413
Legislature protects veterans from discrimination
OLYMPIA – A new law passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor protects veterans from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations. The new protections add to the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD). The WLAD is the broadest civil rights statute in the nation. Executive Director Marc Brenman applauded the Legislature and Governor for giving the Washington State Human Rights Commission jurisdiction over discrimination based on honorably discharged veteran or military status.
With the large number of veterans returning from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places where the American military serve, it is especially important to protect their rights to jobs, places to live, and services. A few unscrupulous employers, housing providers, and public accommodations have harmful, preconceived, and stereotyped notions about veterans and people serving in the military.
"This is the second year in a row that the Legislature has proposed, and the Governor has signed, bills giving the WSHRC additional jurisdictions. Our implementation in the last year of the sexual orientation/gender identity statute has been a national model, and I am sure we will do the same fine job on implementing our new veteran and military status jurisdiction," stated Brenman.
SB 5123, signed by the Governor on April 21, 2007, will protect Washingtonians from discrimination based on honorably discharged veteran and military status. The new law will become effective on July 21, 2007. The WSHRC will have jurisdiction over veteran and military status discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
Many veterans are already protected by the WLAD’s nondiscrimination provisions on the basis of disability. It has been estimated that 30% or more of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan have closed head injuries, traumatic brain injury, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
The WSHRC enforces the 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 expression/ 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. For more information about the WSHRC visit www.hum.wa.gov.
WSHRC Commissioners, as appointed by Governor Chris Gregoire, are Kathy Baros Friedt, Chair, Olympia; Ellis Casson, Seattle; Deborah Sioux Cano-Lee, Olympia; Jerry Hebert, Kitsap County; and Shawn Murinko, Spokane.
“I am a veteran,” Commissioner Jerry Hebert said, “We are just now looking at a new era of veterans who will need our support and the equality this bill will provide.”
The WSHRC will be working closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure a sound knowledge base on veterans’ issues, and will conduct outreach, education, and training for covered entities and veterans’ groups.
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