Subject: FW: ANTI-GAY INITIATIVE #1 - "Wa. Comm. for Equal Rights, Not Special Rights." Anti-gay initiative #1, Washington State. No STATE-ASSIGNED number yet. Should be assigned one in under eight weeks. WPAC is the "Washington Public Affairs Council" and is a right-wing group with a history of anti-gay activities. - R'ykandar. ---------- From: Dar Korra'ti Subject: ANTI-GAY INITIATIVE #1 - "Wa. Comm. for Equal Rights, Not Special Rights." Date: Tuesday, January 11, 1994 12:19PM See subject. This is, I _think_, the WPAC group operating under a new name. All data herein is from state documents. - R'ykandar. ----- "Washington Committee for Equal Rights, Not Special Rights" Initiative filed by Gail Lyenne PO Box 39284 Tacoma, WA 98439 206/491-4740 PROPOSED BALLOT TITLE Shall the state and its subdivisions be prohibited from granting special rights based on homosexuality and schools be prohibited from presenting homosexuality as positive behavior? PROPOSED BALLOT SUMMARY This initiative would prohibit the state of Washington and its subdivisions, including counties, cities, towns, and school districts, from enacting a policy whereby any homosexual, bisexual, transsexual, or transvestite preference or practice would be a basis for maintaining any minority status or special right. This act would also prohibit any common school from presenting, promoting or approving homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality, or transvestism, or such practices or relationships, as positive, healthy, or appropriate behavior or lifestyle. PROPOSED INITIATIVE AN ACT Relating to prohibiting special rights for homosexuals; adding new sections to chapter 49.60 RCW; and declaring an emergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. THE EQUAL RIGHTS, NOT SPECIAL RIGHTS ACT. This act shall be known and cited as the Equal Rights, Not Special Rights Act. NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 49.60 RCW to read as follows: PROTECTING CITIZEN'S CONSTITUTIONAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS. Neither the state of Washington, nor its political subdivisions, shall deny any right expressly guaranteed by the Constitution of the state of Washington or the Constitution of these United States of America. Persons who commit acts of violence against the person or property of others should be prosecuted and appropriately punished in order to protect law-abiding citizens and to ensure the guarantee of equal justice for all. NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 49.60 RCW to read as follows: ENSURING EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW. The people find that equal protection of the law, not special rights, is a fundamental principle of constitutional government and is essential to the well-being and perpetuation of a free society. The people further find that there is a legitimate and compelling state interest in ensuring equal protection of the law for all citizens and in preventing special rights based on any homosexual, bisexual, transsexual, or transvestite status, preference, orientation, conduct, act, practice, or relationship. The people further find that there is a legitimate and compelling state interest in ensuring that the rights of parents to control the education of their children and that the sincerely-held values and beliefs of citizens regarding homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality, or transvestism are not denigrated or denied by the public schools and that homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality or transvestism are not presented, promoted, or approved as positive, healthy or appropriate behavior. The people further find that "the duty of all teachers" as required in RCW 28A.405.030 "to endeavor to impress on the minds of their pupils the principles of morality, truth, justice, temperance, humanity and patriotism" and "to teach them to avoid idleness, profanity and falsehood" is an indispensable prerequisite for providing a sound education, maintaining a virtuous and ethical society, and guaranteeing the rights of all citizens. NEW SECTIONS. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 49.60 RCW to read as follows: PROHIBITING SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR HOMOSEXUALS. Neither the State of Washington, nor its political subdivisions, including counties, cities, towns, and school districts, shall by any means or instrumentality, enact or enforce a policy whereby any homosexual, bisexual, transsexual, or transvestive status, preference, orientation, conduct, act, practice, or relationship shall be a basis for a person to maintain any special classification or privilege; minority status; quota preference; affirmative action right; legal standing; public benefit; marital, spousal, parental, familial or domestic privilege, advantage, entitlement, benefit, position, or status; claim of discrimination; or special right or protection. A school, through any employee, volunteer, guest, or other means or instrumentality, shall not present, promote, or approve homosexuality, bisexuality, transexuality, or transvestism, or any such conduct, act, practice, or relationship, as a positive, healthy, or appropriate behavior or lifestyle. As used in this section, "school" means any common school of the state of Washington. NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. CONSTRUCTION CLAUSE. The provisions of this act are to be liberally construed to effectuate the policies and purposes of this act. In the event of conflict between this act and any other provision of law, the provisions of this act shall govern. NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected. NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, morals, or safety, or the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.