Do You Support The Gay-Rights Bill?

The so-called gay-rights bill, currently stalled in the state Senate, has garnered the support of many civil-rights organizations, newspapers and churches throughout Washington. It would outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, jobs, public accommodations, insurance, credit and other areas. Proponents say such a law is the only way to prevent such discrimination.

By opponents fear the measure would create special rights for gays. They say there are other ways to combat sexual discrimination other than creating new legislation that isn't available to help nongays.

Here's what some readers think:

No, I do not support the gay-rights bill which gives special rights to homosexuals. This group, which constitutes only 1 to 2 percent of our population, has chosen their lifestyle. They currently have rights equal to everyone else. Granting special rights to the homosexual will legitimize their behavior and encourage the spread of AIDS.

David Mischke, Edmonds

I feel that they don't need any more special rights than anybody else.

Yvonne Welk, Lynnwood

It saddens me as a member of a free nation that we still can ostracize groups of people who the majority do not understand. This lack of understanding leads to fear to where a paranoid social conscience can look at that group as a threat to their traditions and values. The passing of the gay-rights bill is the first step to allowing homosexuals to take their rightful place in society. One of equality. After all, homosexuals are sons and daughters of this nation just as you and I are and deserve the same inalienable rights.

Shane Murray, Edmonds

I do not support the gay-rights bill because it gives special rights to a group based on their behavior.

Robert Powell, Richmond Beach

My only concern or my hope is that there will be nothing in it that attempts to portray any same-sex couple as a family unit in any way, shape or form. We know what the family unit has consisted of for thousands and thousands of years prior to recorded human history. There was no doubt what a human family was and I only hope that those who would attempt to change our thinking . . . are not able to redefine the concept of a family.

Brian Chamberland, Clinton

I do not support the gay-rights bill. This law would unfairly create special rights for gays. This law, if passed, could open the door to many frivolous, meaningless, and unenforceable laws. Don't we already have laws on the books protecting individuals' rights?

Lucille Bishop, Shoreline

I do support the gay-rights bill. I think that it should be illegal for people who are gay to be discriminated against in housing, jobs, public accommodations, etc.

Dori Joyner, Edmonds

I'm very much opposed to the gay-rights bill. I do not feel that special protection is required for a behavioral group and it would definitely be discriminatory against the nongays.

Marv Bresler, Brier

I don't think that legislating rights for different groups is the right thing to do. We just have too many victims in our society that get legislated help.

Eric Dennis, Bothell

I do not support the gay-rights bill and the reason is because . . . their lifestyle is their choice.

Arlene Moldenhauer, Edmonds

I do support the expansion of the jurisdiction to include the so-called gay rights or the sexual orientation portion to the coverage of the law against discrimination. I don't consider it a gay-rights bill since it covers heterosexuals such as myself as well as lesbians and gays and bisexuals and just simply takes out one more reason that people can be discriminated against. And I fully support this bill and have urged my senators and my legislators to support it.

Eric Garlington, Bothell

I'm against discrimination of any kind, and any law which I think can help prevent it is worthwhile. I don't believe it will create special rights for gays because present laws which prevent discrimination against other minorities haven't created special rights for them. Blacks and women, I don't think, have any special rights. I think the law only the affirms the rights that any person should've had from the beginning.

Larry Clement, Edmonds

I must oppose legislation which tends to hide the psychological evidence that homosexuals and bisexuals are basically victims of the events, miscommunications and misinformation which lead to these types of sexual addictions; that hides the medical evidence that certain sexual practices commonly used by them lead to tissue and organ damage, promote disease and significantly shorten their average life span; and that hiding truth under the guise of antidiscriminatory legislation will only promote the addictions, disease and deaths surrounding these, their loved ones and those who will mistakenly follow their lead.

David Arvidson, Everett

I'm very much against giving homosexuals special consideration.

Frances Harris, Edmonds

No, I do not support the gay-rights bill because, unlike the civil rights actions of the '50s and '60s, blacks were acting to be accepted for who they are and their actions instead of their outward appearance. While gays are asking us to accept their actions. If we were to do this we might as well accept a thief for stealing, which is an action. And since I haven't been able to tell a gay person from a straight person just by looks, it's none of my business what sexual orientation they have nor do I care.

Tim Brewer, Lynnwood

It is almost impossible for me to believe that political leaders would support what are clearly special rights for homosexuals.

Hugh Preston, Edmonds

I don't support it.

Bill Curran, Edmonds

-------------------- NEXT WEEK'S QUESTION --------------------

Do you favor a ban on skateboarding on public streets and sidewalks?

The city of Everett recently outlawed skateboarding on downtown business-zone streets and sidewalks. In Seattle, downtown merchants are pressuring the city to build a skateboard park near Seattle Center to rid the Westlake Park area of skateboarders. Cities such as Kirkland and Auburn already have laws that limit or ban skateboarding on some streets.

In all cities, the issues are similar: Pedestrians and motorists say skateboarders are a hazard and a potential cause of accidents. And property owners say skateboarding can damage some surfaces. But skateboarders say they need a place for their sport and they are urging lawmakers to build skateboard parks before banning skateboarding.

What do you think?

Please phone your responses, by 8 p.m. Monday to the Community Voices reader call-in line, 464-3337. Include your full name, city and phone number (comments cannot be published without verification). Selected responses will be published in the April 29 edition of Snohomish Life.