In the wake of North Carolina's decision to amend its Constitution to ban same sex unions, The Guardian website has created a model looking at gay rights in each state.
According to the graphic, Washington, along with Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Iowa and the District of Columbia, have the most rights afforded to gays.
Washington allows:
- same sex marriage*;
- hospital visitation by same sex partners or spouses;
- gays to adopt, either singly or as a couple.
Washington prohibits:
- employment discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation;
- housing discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation;
- harassment in schools based on gender identity or sexual orientation
Also, Washington's hate crime laws include crimes committed based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
*However, marriage rights in Washington remain fluid as same sex marriage opponents have until June 6 to gather signatures to put Referendum 74, which would affirm the , on the November ballot. In that case, supporters of same sex marriage would be voting YES on the measure, though it was placed on the ballot by opponents of same sex marriage.
In addition to comparing states' level of gay rights, the Guardian graphic allows you to log in through Facebook and see what rights are afforded in the states where all your Facebook friends live.
