I previously reported on the the Washington State civil rights legislation, passed on January 27, 2006, which prohibits job discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. It was the subject of a strong effort to block the law taking effect by obtaining enough signatures to force a public referendum. It takes effect today, a day after foes of the measure failed to submit the 112,500 voter signatures necessary to require a public vote this fall.
Washington already had four jurisdictions that prohibited gender identity discrimination: Burien, King County, Seattle, and Tacoma.
Including Washington, seven states and the District of Columbia now have statutes that prohibit discrimination on the basis of "gender identity", including also California, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Maine, Minnesota, and Illinois.
