The "Equal Rights" Washington Deception

Equal Rights Washington, a political advocacy group for the homosexual community, is spending $25,000 on TV ads in order to revive House Bill 1515, which supposedly would ban discrimination against homosexuals in housing, insurance and jobs. A National organization may double that amount.

George Cheung, the group's executive director stated, "A couple of senators are standing in the way of Washingtonians who overwhelmingly want the anti-discrimination bill passed. It's time, once and for all, to end discrimination and treat everyone equally." (emphasis added)

Overwhelmingly? Then why has this bill failed for 30 years. What is their evidence of overwhelming support? Their fact sheet states:

"A recent Harris poll found that most Americans support employment anti-discrimination laws for lesbians and gays – only 30% are against them. Washingtonians, with our strong tradition of individual rights, are even more likely to approve of LGBT anti-discrimination laws."

They mention a poll of Americans but not for Washingtonians. They presume that because Washington has a "strong tradition of individual rights" that its citizens would be for this particular law. They made a statement of fact of "overwhelming support" based on no evidence but rather a leap of faith. Maybe Washingtonians do support this bill but maybe they don't. One does not have enough evidence to make a statement of fact as ERW did. It is a public relations lie for political gain.

ERW also states:

"According to the most recent US Govt General Accounting Office report on litigation related to LGBT employment discrimination (in those states that have laws protecting LGBT persons), there has been no overall increase in total discrimination cases filed. LGBT-related discrimination accounted on average for 3.5% of cases filed."

How does a law that you admit makes no difference in the number of discrimination claims filed accomplish your stated goal to "once and for all, end discrimination"? The answer is that it doesn't.

ERW admits that "many major Washington employers have already embraced LGBT employees" (emphasis theirs) in their anti-discrimination policies. The problem is that not ALL have or even will. And dissent is not allowed on this issue.

Supporters would rather crush liberty by protecting what their own (as well as other sources) facts say do not need protecting. In doing so, they fight "discrimination" by discriminating against those who exercise their freedom of choice in a way that supporters deem unacceptable.