We've learned that as early as Thursday, July 16, the Senate could vote on the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act.  The act is an amendment known as the Leahy-Collins-Kennedy-Snowe Amendment to S. 1391, the FY 2010 Department of Defense Authorization bill.   This amendment would provide significant improvements to our current hate crimes prevention laws.  The House of Representatives already passed the bill in April with a vote 249-175.  [If we can get Senate approval, then it's straight to the president's desk for signature into law! Finally!!  BUT, you must make the calls!]

 

 

This bill expands the coverage of existing hate crime laws to include crimes not only based on race, color, religion, and national origin, but also bias-motivated crimes based on the victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.

 

It also provides the federal government jurisdiction to prosecute hate crimes in states where current law or local law enforcement action are inadequate. This increased protection will help communities - such as the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community - that continue to be subjected to bias-motivated violence and intimidation.

 

Those opposed to the hate crimes prevention act will be flooding their senators' offices with calls.  Don't let their voices drown our calls of support.  Please take the time today to call your senators and have your support counted.   

 

When you call, be sure to say: