Washington State Legislature Amends Hate-Crime Law to Include Gender Expression and Identity

The Olympian has an article that begins:

Attacks against transgender people could be prosecuted as hate crimes under a bill approved Wednesday by Washington's Legislature.

Senate Bill 5952 changes the definition of "sexual orientation" to reference Washing Statute 49.60.040, which provides:

"Sexual orientation"means heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, and gender expression or identity. As used in this definition, "gender expression or identity" means having or being perceived as having a gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression, whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the sex assigned to that person at birth[.]

The old definition, located in the current hate crime statute, defined sexual orientation as "heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality." Governor Chris Gregoire is expected to sign it into law.

In related news, Massachusetts is considering and Rhode Island is reconsidering "T-inclusive" non-discrimination bills.