New Mexico has become the latest state to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The state has also added sexual orientation to its hate crimes law. Both laws become effective July 1.
Congratulations New Mexico!
yippeee!! Anybody know the other states “in the family?”
Wisconsin (1st ever)
New Jersey
Hawaii
California
New York
Vermont
New Hampshire
Minnesota
Massechusetts
Connecticut
Nevada
Maryland
Rhode Island
Plus the District of Columbia. link
It would have been sooner if we’d had a governor who’d sign it before now. I like Bill Richardson.
Otto, any knowledge on your part as to when/if Oregon is going to join the club?
…mostly Blue (democrat) states.
This issue hasn’t reached Circuit Court level?
Does the discrimination issue manifest itself during job interviews (not hired), events like Christmas parties where same-sex folks show up (soon after fired) or denial of health-benefits?
I can’t believe there are still 36 states that allow discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Interestingly enough, the previous governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, was pretty gay-friendly. But as a conservative Republican (about some things), he just opposed more laws like this.
Hmmm…neither Illinois nor Arkansas, my two home states, are on the list. I am ashamed. 
Ther’ve been lawsuits challenging anti-gay discrimination but SCOTUS and the circuits have been loathe absent state law to include sexual orientation as a “suspect class” in equal protection theory. The “sodomy” case currently before SCOTUS, Garner v Texas, coupled with the Court’s earlier decision in Romer v Evans, may finally fully expand the Equal Protection clause to include gay people. The discrimination manifests itself just as you suggest: failure to hire; firing (see the infamous Cracker Barrel incident where at least 11 people were fired for violating the company’s written “heterosexuals only” policy [now rescinded]); promotion; benefits; harassment; etc.
iampunha
IIRC one house of the Oregon legislature has passed an anti-discrimination measure this session but the other house is holding it up. Is one of your houses in Republican hands?
KCSuze
Illinois has also IIRC passed the legislation through one house but is seeing it held up in the other. As for Arkansas, rub a lamp.
I know that the City of Chicago and the County of Cook both have anti-gay discrimination ordinances.