My opinion of (some) Republicans just go ta little sunnier

From my home town newspaper came a great story of how a representative democracy should work. In this story in the Seattle Post Intelligencerwe learn of the State senate Minority leader and how he finally heard the voices of those being discriminated against.

OLYMPIA -- In what could be the turning point for a decadeslong political fight, a key Senate Republican announced Monday that he would reverse his position and support an anti-discrimination bill for gays and lesbians.

The change of heart by Sen. Bill Finkbeiner, R-Kirkland, likely means gays and lesbians would enjoy the same protections that racial minorities, women and religious groups get under the state Civil Rights Act.

Last year, after avoiding bringing the bill to a vote for nearly 30 years, the Senate rejected the gay civil rights bill by a one-vote margin. Finkbeiner, then the Senate minority leader, voted no, as did his entire caucus and two Democrats.

Finkbeiner said Monday, the first day of the 2006 Legislature, that several conversations in the past year have led him to more fully understand the level of discrimination against gays and lesbians.

"I now find it is both appropriate and necessary for the state to make it clear that this is not acceptable," he said in a statement.

This gets to the heart of what it means to be a leader. The sentiment is lost on no-one:

Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, the gay civil rights bill's longtime champion, said the potential impact of Finkbeiner's move could not be overstated.

"This is a watershed moment in the 30-year history of the struggle for gay and lesbian equal rights in the state of Washington. This is a courageous vote on Senator Finkbeiner's part," said Murray, who has consistently sponsored the bill since taking office in 1995.

"Senator Finkbeiner's willingness to be open, to listen to his constituents, to changing his mind is commendable."

I am happy to say that this occurred here in my own state. If this catches on we could become a model for other states and even the federal government.

Kudos to Senator Finkbeiner.