Referendum 65 asks voters whether they want to keep the law passed this year by the Legislature, which adds "sexual orientation" to a state law that bans discrimination in housing, employment, insurance and credit.

The amendment makes Washington the 17th state with laws protecting gays and lesbians, and the seventh to protect transgender people.

Referendum sponsor Tim Eyman has sent petitions to 5,4000 churches in Washington for what he calls Referendum Sunday. He's asking the churches to help gather signatures and return the petitions the following Sunday, May 28.

Last month, Eyman sent an e-mail to supporters and the media, saying they had collected just a fraction of the signatures needed to get the measure to voters.

He needs 112,440 valid voter signatures by June 6 to get Referendum 65 on the November ballot. The law takes effect June 7, but would be frozen until the November election if enough signatures are turned in.

A referendum refers a law passed by the Legislature to a vote of the people. Initiatives are generally used to propose new laws, but in recent years have been used to overturn the Legislature's actions.