Washington OKs transgender hate-crime protection
By Curt Woodward Associated Press
Apr 9, 2009 - 6:08:43 PM
http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_11051.phpSupporters say change to law is a matter of fairness
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Attacks against transgender people could be prosecuted as hate crimes under a bill approved Wednesday, April 8 by Washington's Legislature.
The state's hate-crime law says it's a felony to threaten, damage the property of, or physically injure someone because of ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, disability or sexual orientation.
At present, the hate-crime definition of sexual orientation covers gay, straight or bisexual people. The bill approved Wednesday adds "gender expression or identity" to that definition, making the law apply to attacks on transgender people.
