Evans Politics

“The United States Senate passed landmark legislation today that expands the coverage and protection of federal hate crime laws to now include sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability. While a 1994 federal law technically covered gays, the scope of the law was so narrow that it was hardly ever used. Today’s legislation is expected to be signed by President Obama soon. It marks the first practical expansion of the most broadly applicable criminal civil rights law since 1968. The House passed its conference version earlier this month. An earlier version is here.

“The law entitled the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act (18 USC 249) passed two critical votes on Thursday. The law is named after two murder victims from 1998 who were targetted for attack because of bigotry. One vote to end a possible filibuster passed by a 64-35 vote, and the final vote on the provision and bill passed later by a vote of 68-29. The bill was included in a large 2010 Department of Defense Authorization Act. At least four Republicans voted with nearly every Democrat to end a possible filibuster: Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, as well as George Voinovich of Ohio, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

“The Anti-Defamation League’s Civil Rights Policy Planning Center Director Michael Lieberman reached in Washington, DC late Thursday said:

“‘ADL has been privileged to lead a broad coalition of civil rights, religious, educational, professional, law enforcement, and civic organizations working in support of this legislation for more than a decade.  The incredible dedication and persistence of our Hill champions – led by Senator Kennedy – and coalition activists across the country brought us to this day.’

…SNIP…

“The Human Rights Campaign’s Joe Solmonese said on HRC’s website: ‘We look forward to President Obama signing it into law; our nation’s first major piece of civil rights legislation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.’

“Not everyone was pleased, the Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins told the Associated Press that act was a ‘part of a radical social agenda that could ultimately silence Christians and use the force of government to marginalize anyone whose faith is at odds with homosexuality.’”

Read the full article, here.

Brian Levin, J.D., is Director, Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, California State University.

Read the text of S.909 - Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act at OpenCongress.org.

Visit the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

See Senate passes measure that would protect gays, The Washington Post, October 23, 2009, by Ben Pershing.