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Senate OKs bill to outlaw discrimination against gays

CARSON CITY -- The Senate voted 19-2 today for a bill that would outlaw discrimination against gays and lesbians in places of public accommodations, such as hotels and restaurants.

Under the provisions of Senate Bill 207 the Nevada Equal Rights Commission would be required to investigate complaints filed by people who said they were discriminated against because of their "sexual orientation."

Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, said it has been against the state's "public policy" since 2005 to discriminate on the basis of one's sexual orientation, but that policy did not make it illegal to discriminate against them.

Sen. Maurice Washington, a Republican African-American minister from Sparks, and Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, cast the only no votes.

With Senate passage, the bill now goes to the Assembly for hearings

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.

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24 Responses to "Senate OKs bill to outlaw discrimination against gays"
May I ask Sen. Washington and Cegavske why they think it's alright to discriminate against ANYONE, let alone members of the gay community? Hopefully you all remember this come reelection time!
Written by: Equalrightsforeveryone on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Why doesn't the city of Las Vegas legalize same-sex marriages? We are the place to go to get married...why not this? It would boost the economy! It would put Vegas back in the news in a positive way! Sure there will be people threatening with boycotts but that wouldn't last. People will always come here.
Written by: Christine on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Ah gotta love it. A black man voting to discriminate against gays and lesbians. Kind of reminds me of prop 8.

Considering that black people are the first to scream discrimination, oppression and whatever, you'd think they'd be the first ones jumping to prevent discrimination against others.

Mr. Washington, may you choke to death on your dinner this evening.
Written by: LOL on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 1:51 PM
I think someone forgot to tell Ms. Cegaske that her "cheerleading" son is GAY...
Written by: Cegaske on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Christine:

What "a positive way" is to one person is not "a positive way" to another. "People will always come here"...Do you Vegas is special or something? Sounds like arrogant thinking to me.
Written by: ? on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 2:35 PM
I think we really need to reach out to Senator Cegavske before she votes against the DP bill thinking that it will spell trouble for her sons toot.
Written by: Michelle on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 2:41 PM
I think we really need to reach out to Senator Cegavske before she votes against the DP bill thinking that it will spell trouble for her sons toot.
Written by: Michelle on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Huh, and I thought it was illegal to discriminate against anyone in public accommodations. Love the irony of an African-American voting against anti-discrimination legislation!

Well, now at least all the people who take advantage of gay marriage in more progressive states (Iowa is cooler than Nevada, ha!) can rest assured they'll be welcomed here on their honeymoon.
Written by: Straight, not narrow on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 2:51 PM
When you try to control every aspect of the private affairs of 2,400,000 Nevadans that you can think of, even a 120-day session is going to seem abbreviated. We don't need politicians telling hotel operators who they have to rent rooms to. Perhaps next week the legislature will require Wal*Mart to sell discount S&M accessories.
Written by: 116_days_too_many on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 4:03 PM
I am not surprised that a black minister would be against this. Civil rights are OK for blacks but not for anyone else.

This is a human rights issue and as long as the Mormons and other cults fight this, gays and lesbians will be prevented from marriage and the United States will continue to be the home of the bigoted.
Written by: Ken on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 4:03 PM
I am a Canadian who travels with my partner 4-6 times to Las Vegas in any year. Had we know that WE as tourists spending 20-40,000 and more a year could be discrimated against without recourse - frankly we would not have come for the past 10 years!!!!. We are now reading this and is alarming to say the least. We think we have easily poured 1/2 million into Las Vegas and Nevada. Had we known we were exposed we would have travelled to Europe (more often) or played at Canadian casinos. We thought we were safe in Nevada. That said we are pleased to see the State of Nevada is joining the enlightened world. Givene we have 3 trips planned to Las Vegas over the next 5 months - we are somewhat comforted. Las Vegas and Nevada should after all be ensuring that every traveller visiting the state is protected and if not put up a sign that says "not welcome". We can travel elsewhere where we and our money is welcome.

John from Canada
Written by: JOHN ANDRUSIAK on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 4:04 PM
John from Canada

There had to be a law for you to come here? Obviously you felt comfortable all of these years without the law, so how does this make any difference?
You've had fun over the past ten years with your partner, and never knew that there wasn't a law against same-sex discrimination.
Written by: Jessica on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 4:18 PM
One would assume that this just codifies common business practice. Vegas is a town of money, and the only factor that counts, gay or straight, black or white, is the color green (as in money).

Written by: Whats the difference? on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Stupid congress. Nevada is not CA nor Europe. Go to Europe of CA if they care about that
Written by: Stephen on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Racist and homophobic comments are one and the same. "Black people are the first to scream discrimination". Don't paint everyone with the same brush.
Bigotry exists among gays as well as blacks.
Written by: Gordon on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 4:59 PM
I want the cross-dresser bill to pass too! Assembly Bill 184 will let you show up to work in drag and choose the gender on your driver license. http://leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Reports/history.cfm?DocumentType=1&BillNo=184
Written by: Freddie Mercury on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Outlaw homosexuality.
Written by: TDM on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 5:35 PM
It is too bad that people can express their conviction to vote on an issue and it will be used against them. I have respect for a politician who votes based on their convictions, after all that is why they were elected.
Written by: tau on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 6:03 PM
This is wonderful news. Now I hope christians will learn that they should not treat people as they were treated by the Romans...
Written by: Paco in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 6:28 PM
In America, open acts of homosexual behavior should be crimilized. This vote is an absolute step in the wrong direction.
Written by: Paul on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Religion has no place in a modern society and should be criminalized...
Written by: Paco in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 6:35 PM
This is not the first time Cegavske conspired and been caught with her pants down. Remember her money hungry hands in Jim Rogers pocket to help the Channel 3 news continue on its' bias and slant on local news?
She got busted foe that one. And, Rogers went on to destroy higher education for Nevada.
She and this so called Washington will not burn in hell. Their pathetic lives already exist in hell.
They are to be shamed. They stand as walking embarrassments of ignorance.
They are below a putz or any other four letter word you can think of.
Sorry that life is so cruel to the both of you. It is too bad you hate life and hate God.
You did not get elected to office to bring the public down into your fire pit of doom and gloom. But you try.
Now get up from your chair and walk to the mirror. If it doesn't break into a million pieces, take a good long look. Yes, that's the face of hate.
Written by: Stan on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 8:04 PM
This is not the first time Cegavske conspired and been caught with her pants down. Remember her money hungry hands in Jim Rogers pocket to help the Channel 3 news continue on its' bias and slant on local news?
She got busted foe that one. And, Rogers went on to destroy higher education for Nevada.
She and this so called Washington will not burn in hell. Their pathetic lives already exist in hell.
They are to be shamed. They stand as walking embarrassments of ignorance.
They are below a putz or any other four letter word you can think of.
Sorry that life is so cruel to the both of you. It is too bad you hate life and hate God.
You did not get elected to office to bring the public down into your fire pit of doom and gloom. But you try.
Now get up from your chair and walk to the mirror. If it doesn't break into a million pieces, take a good long look. Yes, that's the face of hate.
Written by: Stan on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Can't we have a bill that makes it illegal to discriminate against anyone? Why single out group after group; that alone makes them stand out as different. Why does it have to be specific? We should fight ALL discrimination!
Written by: hmm on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 at 10:10 PM
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