On January 27, 2006, the Washington State Senate passed landmark gay rights legislation that banned discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, lending and employment. The legislation was approved by the House the week before. Governor Christine Gregoire later signed the legislation. Supporters of the measure had been trying to get a version of the bill passed for almost 30 years. Opponents said that the legislation is unnecessary and could lead to same-sex marriage. The legislation made Washington the seventeenth state in the nation with an anti-discrimination law covering sexual orientation.



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