State News Release
Date: November 07, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: 1-800-233-3247
TTY 1-800-300-7525
Washington State Human Right Commission Honors Veterans
OLYMPIA - The Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) thanks veterans and members of the military for their service and commitment to our country. This year, the WSHRC is happy to note that veterans and service members have stronger civil rights protections in Washington State. SB 5123, passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, became effective July 27, 2007, and prohibits discrimination based on honorably discharged veteran or military status in employment, housing, public accommodation, credit and lending. SB 5340 expanded the definition of disability for nondiscrimination purposes under state law and was also passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. These protections help make Washington State a welcoming place for veterans, service members, and their families.
With the large number of veterans returning from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places where the American military serve, it is especially important to protect service members' rights to jobs, places to live, and services.
These new protections are part of the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD). The WLAD now has strong protections for veterans and prohibits discrimination on the basis of veteran or military status, and real or perceived disability.
The WSHRC enforces the WLAD, which prohibits discrimination in employment (employers with eight of more employees), housing, places of public accommodation, and credit and insurance transactions, on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or gender expression/ identity, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, age (over 40), the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, retaliation for opposing an unfair practice, filing a whistleblower complaint with the Washington State Auditor, or filing a nursing home abuse complaint.
Over 670,000 veterans live in Washington State, totaling over 10% of the State's population. Many veterans are returning home with disabilities that may or may not be visible. Injuries may include Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and anxiety. Today, there are also more veterans with amputations and lower extremity injuries, as compared with other conflicts and wars. Please join us in honoring America's veterans by helping to ensure that they are treated fairly when they return home.
For more information about the WSHRC visit www.hum.wa.gov. Frequently Asked Questions are posted under the "Veterans" tab and will be updated regularly. The WSHRC has issued two self-assessment guides for employers who want to be proactive and in compliance with the WLAD. These guides are focused on disability discrimination and the WLAD and veterans status discrimination and the WLAD.
WSHRC Commissioners, as appointed by Governor Chris Gregoire, are Yvonne Lopez-Morton, Chair, Spokane; Ellis Casson, Seattle; Deborah Sioux Cano-Lee, Olympia; Jerry Hebert, Kitsap County; and Shawn Murinko, Olympia.
Visit the WSHRC on the web at www.hum.wa.gov or toll free at 1-800-233-3247 or TTY 1-800-300-7525.
Complaint questionnaires can be filed online.
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