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Loading ...House passes inclusive hate crimes bill
04.29.2009 5:24pm EDT
(Washington) The House of Representatives passed legislation Wednesday to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of categories covered under federal hate crime law.
The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act for the 21-year-old college student who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Wyoming in October 1998, would provide local police and sheriff’s departments with federal resources to combat hate violence.“No one should face violence simply because of who they are,” said Judy Shepard, executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. “This bill is a critical step to erasing the hate that has devastated far too many families.”
Wednesday morning, just hours before the vote, President Obama urged Congress to pass the bill.
” I urge members on both sides of the aisle to act on this important civil rights issue by passing this legislation to protect all of our citizens from violent acts of intolerance – legislation that will enhance civil rights protections, while also protecting our freedom of speech and association,” the President said in a statement.
” I also urge the Senate to work with my Administration to finalize this bill and to take swift action.”
During debate on the bill, prior to the vote, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) alleged that it was a “hoax” that the slaying of Matthew Shepard’s had anything to do with him being gay.
“That young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery, it wasn’t because he was gay,” said Foxx.
The Senate version of the bill was filed this week by Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine). It still needs to go to committee before being voted on in the full Senate.
Gay rights groups have been fighting to have the legislation passed for over a decade.
The legislation passed the House in 2007 but President Bush threatened to veto it if it passed in the Senate.
In an effort to get around a veto the Senate version was tied to the 2008 defense authorization bill. It passed, but then was stripped out in conference.
Because there is no federal law mandating states and municipalities to report hate crimes, they are often under-reported. However, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s own statistics, based on voluntary reporting, show that since 1991 over 100,000 hate crime offenses have been reported to the FBI, with 7,624 reported in 2007, the FBI’s most recent reporting period.
Violent crimes based on sexual orientation constituted 16.6 percent of all hate crimes in 2007, with 1,265 reported for the year. In addition, while not captured in the federal statistics, transgender Americans too often live in fear of violence.
“That young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery, it wasn’t because he was gay.”
Virginia Foxx should review the facts about the case before she opens her bigoted mouth again. It’s true that the original plan by Shepard’s killers was to only rob him, but kidnapping and murder have nothing to do with a simple robbery.
Virginia Foxx’s calling it a “hoax” and refusing to acknowledge the facts is a complete display of disrespect and ignorance.
I can’t wait for this bill to get passed.
Rep. Virgina Foxx (R-NC) (I know, a REPUBLICAN, how SHOCKING!) is a hateful bitch.
Why is it that hateful swine always try to change history:
A) Skin heads/neo-nazis = no holocaust (eg. jewish conspiracy)
B) Bush/cheney = no torture (Ntl defense)
C) Virginia Foxx = no hate crimes (Robbery)
OK,, progress is progress, so I can’t be unhappy with today’s outcome. However, I propose the question, do we really want to spend the next two centuries passing gay rights laws by piecemeal? Or a better way of putting it would be, do we want to keep fighting for equality, law by law instead of passing an all encompassing SONDA(Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act) or better yet adding the words sexual orientation/identity to the 1964 Civil Rights Act? Having a SONDA or adding sexual orientation to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, would be a blanket piece of legislation which would cover most everything from discrimination in employement, to government discrimination and hate crimes. In fact, adding sexual orientation to the 1964 Civil Rights Act could, in theory, end the entire marriage equality debate in one swoop.
And while I understand and completely agree with the need for hate crimes laws, especially when there is evidence of conspiracy and lack of concern on behalf of the local police. I feel that hate crimes laws are somewhat redundant, and on the grand scale of legislation needed to advance equality for gay and lesbian Americans it ranks pretty damned low. We need to be fighting for bigger and better things, not just hate crimes law here, and ENDA there, maybe a repeal of DADT ban in 27 years, marriage equality in New England by 2012, marriage equality in all 50 states in 3768. We need to push for the bigger bills, major changes NOW. We can’t shotgun marry our “agenda” to President Homophobama’s political career. There will never come a more perfect time than now, congress’s make up will shift in 2010 and 2012, so we need to use these less than perfect, yet as perfect as they’ll ever get conditions right NOW and move full speed ahead on not only Homophobama’s campaign promisses to us, but REAL equality. Regardless of how we view Obama/Homophobama, if he is the best we’re ever going to get as many of you believe, then we need to use this first term, this Democratic congress for all it’s worth. We need to treat 2009 as if it is the last best chance for us to move forward, if we do so, if the gay naysayers and people who fear backlash are ignored, then we will win.
“That young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery, it wasn’t because he was gay.”
I think one of the killers actually admitted that this happened because Matthew was gay. People like Foxx are why only 21% of Americans identify themselves as Republicans now. Foxx needs to stop twisting the facts to suit her narrow-minded agenda.
Hey, not all Republicans can be bad of Olympia Snowe is one of the people who filed the Senate version of the bill.
Rodney, that idea is attractive, but it was tried for years since it was introduced in 1974 and wasn’t successful. The current strategy began in the early 1990s and soon came within one vote of passage. ENDA is consistent with the Spending Power and Section V of the 14th Amendment, which give congress the authority to enforce it. Its constitutionality is partly why is has such strong congressional support, that and the fact that a large majority of Americans favor it. It looks like an inclusive ENDA will pass and will meet constitutional muster; I suggest we go with what works.
Dr. Jillian T. Weiss:
http://transworkplace.blogspot.com/2007/05/enda-history.html
Kari, your posting is correct. Olympia Snowe is one of the oustanding U.S. Senators and a champion of individual rights and represents what a U.S. Senator should be. The same can be said for her fellow Senator from Maine, Susan Collins. If the other Republican Senators would follow them, more than 21% of voters would consider the Republican Party and this nation would have a viable two party system. With the departure of Arlen Spectre, it is tragic that the second American political party is down to two U S. Senators who have broad appeal of the electorate. The right wing crazies have taken over the nomination propcess for this party in so many states, insisting on nominating out of touch members of the radical right who can never win a general election–again citing Senator Spectre’s departure knowing he was next on the list.
Contact Rep. Foxx at the link below and let her know what you think, I did!
http://www.foxx.house.gov/?sectionid=95§iontree=3,95
Use zipcode 28607 on the form or it will not go through!
Foxx office addresses and phone numbers:
WASHINGTON, D.C.
1230 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2071
Fax: (202) 225-2995
MAP >> CLEMMONS, N.C.
6000 Meadowbrook Mall, Suite 3
Clemmons, NC 27012
Phone: (336) 778-0211
Fax: (336) 778-2290
MAP >> BOONE, N.C.
240 Hwy 105 Extension, Suite 200
Boone, NC 28607
Phone: (828) 265-0240
Fax: (828) 265-0390
So where is the vote total and breakdown…What kind of stupid report is this!!
Here is total: and more garbage! From some of our ‘representatives’. Is yours on this list??
The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act was approved by the U.S. House 249 to 175. Virginia Foxx wasn’t alone in her insane bigotry; the GOP fringe had their time on the floor to embarrass themselves, further driving the Republican party into the dustbin of history as the haven for extremists, eliminationists and know-nothings.
Check out this compilation from Think Progress of the parade of wingnuts, including Michele Bachmann, making asses out of themselves on the House floor. These members of Congress have been captured for eternity on video. Their grandkids are going to wonder what the hell was wrong with their kin when they see these hysterics.
REP MICHELE BACHMANN (R-MN): I feel that this hate crime legislation could be considered the very definition of tyranny.
REP. GRESHMAN BARRET (R-SC): This bill would inhibit religious freedom in our society — a scary thought.
REP. LOUIE GOHMERT (R-TX): You think a pregnant mother does not deserve the protection of a homosexual? You think a military member doesn’t deserve the protection of a transvestite?
REP. STEVE KING (R-IA): I, Mr. Speaker, oppose and I defy the logic of the people that would advocate for such legislation the very idea we could divine what goes on in the heads of people when they commit crimes.
But we can’t just rail about the batsh*t Republicans. Guess who voted against the hate crimes bill from the Blue Dog Dem Hall of Shame (courtesy of Howie Klein):
Bobby Bright (Blue Dog-AL) Dan Boren (Blue Dog-OK) Chris Carney (Blue Dog-PA) who still hasn’t learned his lesson Travis Childers (Blue Dog-MS) Lincoln Davis (Blue Dog-TN) Joe Donnelly (Blue Dog-IN) Brad Ellsworth(Blue Dog-IN) Bart Gordon (Blue Dog-TN) Mike McIntyre (Blue Dog-NC) Charlie Melancon (Blue Dog-LA) Collin Peterson (Blue Dog-MN) Mike Ross (Blue Dog-AR) Heath Shuler (Blue Dog-NC) John Tanner (Blue Dog-TN) Gene Taylor (Blue Dog-MS)
Yeah! Now It’s the Senators turn to pass this. Please,please,please!
Do I smell bigotry and hate on Ms. Foxx? That’s one strong funk of hate mixed in with stupidity. Seems like she’s cool with people getting hurt and/or killed in the name of hate or a robbery. How did she get her job representing her state again?