Terms
used in this section shall have the following definitions:
(1)(a) "Every person" shall be construed to include any
owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, agent or employee whether one
or more natural persons, partnerships, associations,
organizations, corporations, cooperatives, legal representatives,
trustees, receivers, of this state and its political
subdivisions, boards and commissions, engaged in or exercising
control over the operation of any place of public resort,
accommodation, assemblage or amusement.
(b) "Deny" is hereby defined to include any act which
directly or indirectly, or by subterfuge, by a person or his
agent or employee, results or is intended or calculated to result
in whole or in part in any discrimination, distinction,
restriction, or unequal treatment, or the requiring of any person
to pay a larger sum than the uniform rates charged other persons,
or the refusing or withholding from any person the admission,
patronage, custom, presence, frequenting, dwelling, staying, or
lodging in any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage,
or amusement except for conditions and limitations established by
law and applicable alike to all persons, regardless of race,
creed or color.
(c) "Full enjoyment of" shall be construed to include the
right to purchase any service, commodity or article of personal
property offered or sold on, or by, any establishment to the
public, and the admission of any person to accommodations,
advantages, facilities or privileges of any place of public
resort, accommodation, assemblage or amusement, without acts
directly or indirectly causing persons of any particular race,
creed or color, to be treated as not welcome, accepted, desired
or solicited.
(d) "Any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage
or amusement" is hereby defined to include, but not to be limited
to, any public place, licensed or unlicensed, kept for gain, hire
or reward, or where charges are made for admission, service,
occupancy or use of any property or facilities, whether conducted
for the entertainment, housing or lodging of transient guests, or
for the benefit, use or accommodation of those seeking health,
recreation or rest, or for the sale of goods and merchandise, or
for the rendering of personal services, or for public conveyance
or transportation on land, water or in the air, including the
stations and terminals thereof and the garaging of vehicles, or
where food or beverages of any kind are sold for consumption on
the premises, or where public amusement, entertainment, sports or
recreation of any kind is offered with or without charge, or
where medical service or care is made available, or where the
public gathers, congregates, or assembles for amusement,
recreation or public purposes, or public halls, public elevators
and public washrooms of buildings and structures occupied by two
or more tenants, or by the owner and one or more tenants, or any
public library or any educational institution wholly or partially
supported by public funds, or schools of special instruction, or
nursery schools, or day care centers or children's camps; nothing
herein contained shall be construed to include, or apply to, any
institute, bona fide club, or place of accommodation, which is by
its nature distinctly private provided that where public use is
permitted that use shall be covered by this section; nor shall
anything herein contained apply to any educational facility
operated or maintained by a bona fide religious or sectarian
institution; and the right of a natural parent in loco parentis
to direct the education and upbringing of a child under his
control is hereby affirmed.
(2) Every person who denies to any other person because of
race, creed, or color, the full enjoyment of any of the
accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges of any place
of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement, shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor.
[1953 c 87 § 1; 1909 c 249 § 434; RRS § 2686.]
NOTES:
Application forms, licenses -- Mention of race or religion prohibited -- Penalty: RCW 43.01.100.
Interference with board against discrimination: RCW 49.60.310.