Welcome to the Washington State Human Rights Commission

Toll Free: 1-800-233-3247 (SE HABLA ESPAÑOL)
TTY: 1-800-300-7525

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Our Commissioners: Read their bios and see our Commission Calendar

Public Forum Disability Accommodation Request form

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On May 23, 2008 at the WSHRC’s monthly Commission meeting in Walla Walla, Senator Mike Hewitt presented Marc Brenman with the 2008 Washington State Leadership Award. Executive Director Brenman was nominated by the managers at WSHRC in recognition of his leadership skills, commitment to service, professionalism and personal integrity.

Prior to May 23, the managers took Mr. Brenman to lunch and presented him with their informal version of the award.

To read the full text of the nomination submitted to the Washington State Productivity Board, click here  

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WASHINGTON STATE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

NEWS RELEASE

Case Settlement of $38,000 Yields Gains for Residents and a Community

News Release in English and Espanol

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WASHINGTON STATE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

NEWS RELEASE

Discrimination Based on HIV Status is Against the Law

Read news release here

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New law affects sellers of distressed homes

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Gov. Chris Gregoire's LGBT Pride Month Proclamation

Gov. Chris Gregoire honored for advancing civil rights for immigrants

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Gov. Gregoire announces alleged discriminatory lending by Countrywide Home Loans

State fines Countrywide, asks for state license to be pulled

SEATTLE - Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced plans by Washington state to fine Countrywide Home Loans $1 million for discriminatory lending. In addition, the company will be required to pay more than $5 million in back assessments the company failed to pay. Gregoire also announced the state is seeking to revoke Countrywide's license to do business in Washington for its alleged illegal activity.

Joining Gregoire at today's announcement was Deb Bortner, director of consumer services at the Washington state Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), and James Kelly, president of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.

"The allegation that Countrywide preyed on minority borrowers is extremely troubling to me," Gregoire said. "And I hope to learn eventually just how much this may have contributed to foreclosures in our state. The allegation offers evidence that Countrywide engaged in a pattern to target minority groups and engage in predatory practices."

"That's why we intend to bring the full weight of the state on Countrywide to rewrite home loans for minority borrowers who may have been misled into signing predatory mortgages," the governor noted. "My job is to protect hard-working Washingtonians, and protect them we will."

DFI is required to examine every home-lender licensed in the state of Washington. The agency conducted its fair lending examination of Countrywide last year. At that time, DFI looked at roughly 600 individual loan files and uncovered evidence that Countrywide engaged in discriminatory lending that targeted Washington's minority communities. The agency also found significant underreporting of loans during its investigation.

The governor noted that the state is faring better in the national mortgage crisis thanks to the diversity of our state's business and because Washington-based lending institutions are responsible leaders. Partly because of these factors, Washington ranks almost last in home foreclosures nationally.

During her administration, Gregoire has taken steps to help homeowners stay in their homes. In 2007, she formed the Task Force for Homeowner Security to ensure that impacts related to the national subprime mortgage market are minimized in Washington. Gregoire also asked DFI to watch for predatory and discriminatory lending.

"The Urban League is seeing far too many families caught up in the mortgage crisis who are being steered into bad loans," stated James Kelly. "Today's announcement from the governor is consistent with her message of protecting Washingtonians from national mortgage instability."

DFI sent Countrywide a statement of charges on June 23, notifying the company of the fine and the back assessments the state plans to pursue. The investigation continues.

A copy of the statement can be found at http://www.dfi.wa.gov/

A copy of the charge can be found here

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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is observed nationally to recognize the contributions that people of Asian and Pacific heritage made to American culture.

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Statement of Peter Zamora,
Washington, D.C. Regional Counsel
Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)
"The 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and its Continuing Importance"
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
September 5, 2007

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The Governor recently signed Executive Order 8-01 creating the New Americans Policy Council. 

The Governor will soon be making appointments to this Council.

Click here for more information

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The Youth Leadership Forum for High School Students with Disabilities will be held at The Evergreen State College, in Olympia, August 10-15, 2008.

This is a wonderful, all expenses paid opportunity for high school students with disabilities in Washington State to stay on campus for 6 days and 5 nights. 

Click here for the application

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DSHS seeks Minority Advisory Committee and Disability Advisory Committee members

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Washington State Human Right Commission Honors Veterans

Legislature protects veterans from discrimination

DEFINITION OF DISABILITY IS EXPANDED UNDER WASHINGTON LAW

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The Washington State Human Rights Commission is proud to release our new Public Service Announcement!

Click here to listen Windows Media format or MP3 format

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Press Release:

*NEW* The Washington State Human Rights Commission Publishes Self-Assessment Checklist for Real Estate and Housing Transactions

Checklist can be downloaded here: (MS Word format or Adobe pdf format)

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The WSHRC has developed an innovative guide, Self-Assessment Checklist for Compliance and Suggested Best Practices

(click here to download the guide in either MS Word or Adobe Reader format)

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The Washington State Constitution requires equality of rights and responsibilities on the basis of sex.

FROM THE WASHINGTON STATE CONSTITUTION:

ARTICLE XXXI SEX EQUALITY - RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

SECTION 1 EQUALITY NOT DENIED BECAUSE OF SEX.
Equality of rights and responsibility under the law shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex.

SECTION 2 ENFORCEMENT POWER OF LEGISLATURE.
The legislature shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. [AMENDMENT 61, 1972 House Joint Resolution No. 61, p 526. Approved November, 1972.]

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Washington State Human Rights Commission letter in support of HB 2903, Creating an access coordinator for the administrative office of the courts sent to Representative Patricia Lantz.

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Joint IAOHRA/NAHRW Conference

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La sucursal de Yakima ofrece talleres gratuitos en español acerca de los impuestos

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Federal Government services available in Spanish

Interested in having a Speaker at your event? please click for more information

 

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