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Take Action! Help Pass The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act. Contact Senators Today.
Take Action! Help Pass The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act. Contact Senators Today.
Take Action!
•
Call and Write US Senators today and demand that they support and vote for S.909. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act.
Please forward this to all your groups and contacts. The right wing Conservatives are working to defeat this vital legislation, and we must work to pass it.
For the direct lines, webforms, and contact information to senators offices, go to
www.congress.org
Matthew Shepard Act
Matthew Shepard Act
After years of unconscionable delay, the House has approved legislation that would, for the first time, extend federal hate-crimes law to give substantive coverage to gay people. The act would be an important step forward in protecting all minorities from violence and a tribute to a young man whose life was cut short by bigotry.
In 1998, Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old University of Wyoming student, who was singled out by his attackers because he was gay, was tied to a fence, tortured and left in a coma to die.
His death galvanized a national movement to extend hate-crimes protection to gay men and lesbians, but it has also galvanized stiff opposition. Two years ago, a hate-crimes bill that included gay people stalled after President George W. Bush threatened to veto it.
The Matthew Shepard Act, as the bill is known in the Senate, would provide increased funding to state and local authorities to prosecute a wide range of hate crimes — ones motivated by race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It would also authorize the federal government to prosecute these crimes when states fail to do so.
The biggest beneficiaries would probably be African-Americans, who make up the largest group of hate-crime victims. It would also help Hispanics, who have been increasing targets of anti-immigrant hatred. The bill’s opponents have focused on the protection of gay people, who were the victims in more than 16 percent of the hate crimes reported by the F.B.I. in 2007.
In addition to providing more resources, the act would serve an important public education role, underscoring the seriousness and horror of these crimes. In a particularly ugly moment in last week’s House debate, Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina, declared that Mr. Shepard’s death was “a hoax,” repeating a right-wing canard that he was not a target because he was gay.
Luckily, Ms. Foxx is part of a dwindling — if still too vocal — minority. A Hart Research poll released in February 2007 found that 73 percent of those surveyed support hate-crimes legislation that protects gays.
After the House’s strong vote — 249 to 175 — in favor of the bill, the Senate needs to follow. Senator Edward Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, has introduced the companion bill, which has bipartisan support. Harry Reid, the majority leader, should quickly schedule a vote.
More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/opinion/06wed3.html?ref=opinion
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
Take Action!
•
Call and Write US Senators today and demand that they support and vote for S.909. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act.
Please forward this to all your groups and contacts. The right wing Conservatives are working to defeat this vital legislation, and we must work to pass it.
For the direct lines, webforms, and contact information to senators offices, go to
www.congress.org
Matthew Shepard Act
Matthew Shepard Act
After years of unconscionable delay, the House has approved legislation that would, for the first time, extend federal hate-crimes law to give substantive coverage to gay people. The act would be an important step forward in protecting all minorities from violence and a tribute to a young man whose life was cut short by bigotry.
In 1998, Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old University of Wyoming student, who was singled out by his attackers because he was gay, was tied to a fence, tortured and left in a coma to die.
His death galvanized a national movement to extend hate-crimes protection to gay men and lesbians, but it has also galvanized stiff opposition. Two years ago, a hate-crimes bill that included gay people stalled after President George W. Bush threatened to veto it.
The Matthew Shepard Act, as the bill is known in the Senate, would provide increased funding to state and local authorities to prosecute a wide range of hate crimes — ones motivated by race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It would also authorize the federal government to prosecute these crimes when states fail to do so.
The biggest beneficiaries would probably be African-Americans, who make up the largest group of hate-crime victims. It would also help Hispanics, who have been increasing targets of anti-immigrant hatred. The bill’s opponents have focused on the protection of gay people, who were the victims in more than 16 percent of the hate crimes reported by the F.B.I. in 2007.
In addition to providing more resources, the act would serve an important public education role, underscoring the seriousness and horror of these crimes. In a particularly ugly moment in last week’s House debate, Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina, declared that Mr. Shepard’s death was “a hoax,” repeating a right-wing canard that he was not a target because he was gay.
Luckily, Ms. Foxx is part of a dwindling — if still too vocal — minority. A Hart Research poll released in February 2007 found that 73 percent of those surveyed support hate-crimes legislation that protects gays.
After the House’s strong vote — 249 to 175 — in favor of the bill, the Senate needs to follow. Senator Edward Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, has introduced the companion bill, which has bipartisan support. Harry Reid, the majority leader, should quickly schedule a vote.
More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/opinion/06wed3.html?ref=opinion
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Marco de Mortelune on -
It would be interesting to hear the reason why some on the conservative side of American politics are opposed to this legislation. Surely they could not support a person being tortured and murdered because of what he or she is, but then again, in a nation that likes to lecture everyone on humanrights but itself still has the barbaric habit of gassing, hanging and frying people its courts believe have committed murder, nothing should surprise us.
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Permalink Reply by Troy on -
Tommy
I think you come across as articulate and I find your topic to be well written. I don't see myself as being well versed in politics, however I do have an opinion. I don't think laws are an ultimate deterrent of violent crime. In my opinion, many of the people who commit these crimes either have control issues and can't stop themselves or are radical in their beliefs and are willing to sacrifice their freedom and lives to spread their message. Thus, I don't think trying to come up with stronger laws is going change much.
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