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Senate Passes Gay Hate (Crimes) Bill
by Paul Johnson
365Gay.com Newscenter
Washington Bureau Chief
(Washington) The US Senate Tuesday passed legislation adding gay and trans people to the groups protected against hate crimes.
The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act passed 65 to 33 on a bipartisan vote. It was moved as an amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill.
The measure adds "real or perceived sexual orientation, gender and disability" to federal hate crime laws, thus allowing the federal government the ability to provide assistance for the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes based on these categories.
Gay civil rights groups hailed the vote. The Human Rights Campaign called it an important step toward giving law enforcement the tools they need to investigate and prosecute hate crimes.
"We must ensure that some of the most heinous crimes are fully prosecuted," said HRC President Cheryl Jacques. "Hate crimes are perpetrated by criminals trying to divide Americans. It's critical Americans are united in prosecuting these violent crimes."
The bill was endorsed by more than 175 law enforcement, civil rights, civic and religious organizations, including: the National Sheriffs' Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and many others.
"I think a lot of people have gotten educated about this," said Sen. Gordon Smith, an Oregon Republican who sponsored the bill with Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, and has been working for several years for its passage
"Law enforcement organizations are urging passage of this bill and today the Senate delivered again," said Jacques. "It is time for the Congress to finally honor the memory of Matthew Shepard, Barry Winchell, Alan Schindler, Fred Martinez and so many others by passing this legislation. We hope it will survive the Conference on the defense bill and that President Bush will sign it into law."
LLEEA has already passed the Senate in earlier forms on two different occasions - most recently, in June 2000, as an amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill, by a Senate vote of 57-42, with 13 Republicans. In September 2000, the House also passed a motion to instruct in support of the measure, 232-192, with 41 Republicans. The Senate also passed the legislation in July 1999, as an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, State (CJS) appropriations bill. Each time the amendment was stripped out in conference committee.
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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