The legislation, sponsored by Council Chair Larry Phillips will amend the definition of sexual orientation to match the one adopted by the Washington State Legislature. The Metropolitan King County Council has been working on this legislation since 2004, when they held a public hearing on a similar measure.

“People shouldn’t have to choose between being who they are and hiding their gender identity in order to hold down a job or find a place to live,” said Council Chair Larry Phillips. “The County Council has heard from citizens about the discrimination they face, about difficulties finding work, making ends meet, and battling the depression that can result from such hardships. We would not be living up to the ideals of our namesake—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—if we allowed discrimination to continue for transgendered people here within the borders of King County.”

While gays and lesbians are already afforded civil rights protections under existing county codes, state protections have been expanded to include gender identity. Adding this protection will ensure that, regardless of what happens to the law governing statewide protections, citizens in King County will be protected.

This proposal would also standardize rules applying to cases of discrimination filed under each of the four civil rights areas covered by the King County code: employment, public accommodations, housing and contracting. If approved, businesses and citizens will have a standard set of rules and penalties to more easily follow than current county code that varies by type of discrimination. All complainants will be able to take their cases directly to court without first pursuing a county civil rights complaint and the county Office of Civil Rights would be granted subpoena powers in all such cases.