Wash. Rev. Code » Title 49 · Chapter 49.60

Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60.010

Purpose of chapter

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This chapter shall be known as the "law against discrimination." It is an exercise of the police power of the state for the protection of the public welfare, health, and peace of the people of this state, and in fulfillment of the provisions of the Constitution of this state concerning civil rights. The legislature hereby finds and declares that practices of discrimination against any of its inhabitants because of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, families with children, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability are a matter of state concern, that such discrimination threatens not only the rights and proper privileges of its inhabitants but menaces the institutions and foundation of a free democratic state. A state agency is herein created with powers with respect to elimination and prevention of discrimination in employment, in credit and insurance transactions, in places of public resort, accommodation, or amusement, and in real property transactions because of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, families with children, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability; and the commission established hereunder is hereby given general jurisdiction and power for such purposes.
[ 2020 c 52 s 1; 2007 c 187 s 1; 2006 c 4 s 1; 1997 c 271 s 1; 1995 c 259 s 1; 1993 c 510 s 1; 1985 c 185 s 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 214 s 1; 1973 c 141 s 1; 1969 ex.s. c 167 s 1; 1957 c 37 s 1; 1949 c 183 s 1; Rem. Supp. 1949 s 7614-20.]

Notes:

Effective date—1995 c 259: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1995." [ 1995 c 259 s 7.]
Severability—1993 c 510: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1993 c 510 s 26.]
Severability—1969 ex.s. c 167: "If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1969 ex.s. c 167 s 10.]
Severability—1957 c 37: "If any provision of this act or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, the remainder of such act or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid shall not be affected thereby." [ 1957 c 37 s 27.]
Severability—1949 c 183: "If any provision of this act or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, the remainder of such act or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid shall not be affected thereby." [ 1949 c 183 s 13.]
Community renewal law—Discrimination prohibited: RCW 35.81.170.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 226 cases (41 in the last 5 years), 1961–2026 · leading case: Kilian v. Atkinson
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Kilian v. Atkinson (2002) wash · cites it 14× “60 RCW, under RCW 49.60.010 declares as a civil right the right to be free from discrimination because of *22 “race, creed, color, national origin, families with children, sex, marital status, age, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a…”
Fahn v. Cowlitz County (1981) wash · cites it 12× “010, declares that discrimination because of "race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical handicap" is a matter of state concern. Accordingly, a state agency, the Human Rights Commission, has been established…”
Marquis v. City of Spokane (1996) wash · cites it 6× “RCW 49.60.010, .030(1). 3 The law also establishes the Human Rights Commission and gives that agency "powers with respect to elimination and prevention of discrimination” in employment and in other specified areas, RCW 49.”
Woods v. Seattle's Union Gospel Mission (2021) wash · cites it 8× “3d 1009 (2014) (plurality opinion) (citing RCW 49.60.010). Enacted in 1949, WLAD was promulgated with the “purpose of ending discrimination by employers ‘on the basis of race, creed, color, or national origin.”
Griffin v. Eller (1996) wash · cites it 9× “The legislature hereby finds and declares that practices of discrimination against any of its inhabitants because of race, creed, color, national origin, families with children, sex, marital status, age, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use…”
Darrin v. Gould (1975) wash · cites it 12× “2d 1187 (1974)), when the Darrin girls in the fall of 1973 were denied permission to play on the high school football team, Washington's constitutional and statutory law expressly forbade discrimination based on sex.”
Floeting v. Grp. Health Coop. (2019) wash · cites it 4× “" RCW 49.60.010. The legislature has also directed us to liberally construe WLAD to eradicate discrimination, including discrimination in places of public accommodation.”
Stormans, Inc. v. Selecky (2009) ca9 · cites it 2× “Wash. Rev.Code Ann. § 49.60.010. It may issue and investigate complaints, attempt conciliation, or refer matters to the Attorney General’s Office for a hearing before an administrative law judge.”
Burnside v. Simpson Paper Co. (1994) wash · cites it 4× “More specifically, it maintains the Legislature's use of the word "inhabitant" in the purpose section of RCW 49.60.010 denies Washington courts subject matter jurisdiction over persons who are not Washington residents.”
Holland v. Boeing Company (1978) wash · cites it 4× “RCW 49.60.010. And the legislature has *388 directed liberal construction of the provisions of RCW 49.”
> FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES, TENINO AERIE NO. 564 v. Grand Aerie of Fraternal Order of Eagles (2002) wash · cites it 3× “[89] LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE The legislative purpose of the WLAD is codified in RCW 49.60.010 which provides: This chapter shall be known as the "law against discrimination".”
Kimel v. Florida Board of Regents (2000) scotus · cites it 2× “1999); Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60.010 et seq. (1994); W.”
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— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60.010(2) — 1 case
Lee v. AutoNation Inc (2024) wawd
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