the matthew shepard foundation strongly supports the reintroduction of inclusive hate crimes legislation in the house of representatives on march 20 and in the senate on april 12 titled the matthew shepard act (formerly know as the local law enforcement hate crimes prevention act of 2007) this bill is an appropriate and measured response to the unrelenting and under addressed problem of violent hate crimes committed against individuals based on actual or perceived sexual orientation,gender,gender identity and disability matthew shepard act would strengthen existing federal hate crimes laws in 3 ways 1) expand the law to authorize the department of justice to investigate and prosecute certain bias-motivated crimes based on the victims actual or perceived sexual orientation gender,gender identity or disability current laws only includes race,color,religion or national origin 2) eliminate a serious limitation of federal involvement under existing law which requires that a victim of a bias-motivated crime was attacked because he/she was engaged in a specified federally protected activity such as voting,serving on a jury or attending school 3)add gender and gender identity to the hate crimes statistics act
As you've summarized it, it sounds good to me. No doubt that they'll be opposition to it for some reason or another. Is it being introduced as non-partisan? i.e. not by a particular party or by a joint committee? I hate how the opposition critisizes things just because they think they're supposed to... even if its a great idea.
there is a video on youtube regarding the matthew sheppard act the name of the video is (take action against hate crimes) put there by the human rights campaign
If you live in the U.S., you can go to the Human Rights Campaign website (www.hrc.org) and send an e-mail to your legislators. This is an important piece of legislation!
I think it's about time, and Canada as also yet to add "gender identity" to any and all laws regarding such situations as hate crimes, but does however have sexual orientation. Brava for Judy.
Sounds good to me. We need more laws concering GLBT and our rights. I know some politicians are going to try against it however.
The Matthew Sheppard story is so sad I heard it first at a forensics tournament, and I almost cried (the kid presented his father's speech at the trial). We do need more laws! I'm all for it!
the bill already passed in the house, just waiting now for the senate...but bush i think said he will veto it so theres no chance it will be made into law this session. :/
I read a story about a guy that gave testimony on this who was brutalized. He jumped off a cruise ship to his death a couple days ago. So sad. :-(
