Right-wing extremism presents falsehoods

I am writing to correct the glaring falsehoods contained within a letter from Sara Marks that your paper decided to publish for some reason.

The Washington Human Rights Commission is not undemocratic. It has existed since 1949, and members of the commission are appointed by the duly-elected governor of the state. The commission offered numerous avenues for public comment on this and many other issues that it has addressed.

Ms. Marks’ implication that Washington is “ground zero” for rape culture due to our protection of transgender citizens is also patently false. The claim made that I-1552 would protect children from sexual predators has no basis in reality. Gender identity has been protected under the Washington State Law Against Discrimination since 2006, and the anti-transgender fringe can point to almost no real incidents of transgender people using this opportunity to commit crimes against women and children. In fact, children in this country are more at risk from sexual abuse from Republican lawmakers than from transgender people.

Initiative 1552 merely is the latest attempt by right-wing fundamentalist Christians to force their narrow religious beliefs onto an inclusive society. The group behind I-1552 lost the gay marriage fight and is attempting to win a consolation prize by stripping transgender Washingtonians of their rights and dignity by abusing the initiative process. All citizens of Washington committed to a just society should visit washingtonwontdiscriminate.org and learn how to help prevent Washington from becoming the next North Carolina.

This story was originally published June 27, 2017 at 5:32 PM with the headline "Right-wing extremism presents falsehoods."