Subscribe to Breaking NewsRuby-Sachs: F-22 Funding Stripped, Hate Crimes Pass
Today, the Senate voted to strip the F-22 funding from the large defense bill that also includes the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
I wrote last week about how frustrating it was that conservative senators were including a spending measure Obama has promised to veto in with a hate crimes bill that simply affords equal protection for LGBT Americans as granted to other minority communities.
Today, the Senate approved the hate crimes amendment and eliminated the F-22 hurdle. Finally, Matthew Shepard is poised to be written into law.
This victory, and it is a victory, looked almost impossible only a few days ago. But Robert Gates, Joe Biden and Rahm Emanuel gave speeches arguing for the elimination of F-22 funding - a move that illustrates the value of the Matthew Shepard Act as clearly as it illustrates Obama’s opposition to the F-22 expansion. They put serious pressure on Senators supporting the funding move (including those who supported the funding as a way to thwart the hate crimes change).
His administration worked quickly to reverse a political tide in Washington to avoid having to alienate the LGBT community. I see this as a sign of hope. I see this as a sign of growing LGBT political power and I see this as the beginning of the fulfillment of Obama’s campaign promises to us.
If all goes well, this will be cause for celebration.
* for those following debates today, the big question is what role the death penalty will play in the final hate crimes scheme.
AW: I agree with you. The Sessions amendments need to be removed in conference. Since there are more democrats than republicans on the reconciliation committee, I suspect that they will be removed. But it shows just how nasty our enemies are when they resort to adding “poison pill” amendments. I have one question. I notice that Senator Lindsey Graham did not vote on the Hate Crimes Amendment. I wonder if he was afraid of being outed if he started being actively anti-gay (as opposed to being passively anti-gay)? Does anybody have any information about Graham?
It’s not over. Sen. Sessions of Alabama (a staunch opponent of the hate crimes bill) managed to amend the bill.
See http://www.hrcbackstory.org/category/hate-crimes/
Discussion question: Do you support or oppose the death penalty for hate crimes?
Wrong, they passed- even WITH the death penalty amendments. And it passed unanamously, I suppose because they voted at the last-minute and wanted to go home (if I’m being cynical).
I admit that death penalty is a little excessive, but hey, they also included crimes against ex-soldiers and veterans. Everyone wins, I suppose; its just thugs who harm others for who they are
Matt– that doesn’t even make sense.
Matt: Bullshit.
It’s not over. Sen. Sessions of Alabama (a staunch opponent of the hate crimes bill) managed to amend the bill.
See http://www.hrcbackstory.org/category/hate-crimes/
Discussion question: Do you support or oppose the death penalty for hate crimes?
If you assume the role of a victim, the path will be paved for you. Hate crime laws are AGAINST EVERYONE!
This is wonderful news for our people and our fight for our rights!
We’re not there yet. The Sessions “poison pill” amendments were added last night to the Senate version. They will have to be removed during reconciliation with the House bill for it to be a good law. Lets hope that they are.
Hate Crime pass! onto to the next issue of importance to the GLBT community in Congress like maybe passing immigration equality for all same-sex couples, and then going on to recognition of same-sex couples as family at US borders, US customs booths in Canadian and American airports, and other points of entry into USA and of points of departure from Canadian airports and Canadian ferry terminals into USA.
I took note of how my sister and I were treated as family at US customs when returning from Europe, being allowed to stand together in front of the US customs official checking our passports while a same-sex couple would be divided apart and one partner or spouse would have to stand separately back behind the line while his or her partner would be processed ahead without him or her side. As same-sex couples are not recognized as family at the US border or US customs booths in Canadian airports. Causing years ago one well-known gay male activist Canadian couple (legally married to each other by Canadian law, but still single by US customs) to walk away from their trip to the USA right at the US customs booth at the airport in Toronto, Canada.
I agree that the failure of the F-22 amendment makes the path a lot smoother, but even if it had been included the Defense Apropriations bill would have passed eventually, even if vetoed. It’s not like Congress and the Prez would not fund defense eventually.
If the President signs this bill into law, it’ll be a good first step at dismantling the infrastructure of legalized bigotry and discrimination. Thank you to the voices who spoke up for stripping F-22 funding from this bill.
It’s about friggin’ time!!!!!!
Matthew you will always and forever be alive in our hearts.
..Obama is making due on his promises..