In an historic step in equality for gay and bisexual Americans, the US Senate voted yesterday to pass an act which updates and expands hate crimes laws to include violence based on a victim's sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, and disability. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crime bill also provides new resources and tools to assist local law enforcement in prosecuting vicious crimes. The Senate, in a bipartisan vote of 60 to 39, accepted cloture which ended debate on the bill and then moved to approve the Matthew Shepard Act by a voice vote. The similar measure has already passed the House of Representatives.The two versions of the bill must be reconciled before heading to President Bush and a potential battle with the White House. Among those opposing the bill was Senator Larry Craig, who is fighting to overturn a guilty plea he entered after being busted in a gay sex sting operation in the men's toilet at the Minneapolis airport. LGBT equality leaders sitting in the Senate gallery were delighted: "For over a decade our community has worked tirelessly to ensure protections to combat violence motivated by hate and today we are the closest we have ever been to seeing that become a reality," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Congress has taken an historic step forward and moved our country closer to the realization that all Americans, including the GLBT community, are part of the fabric of our nation. The new leadership in Congress fully understands that for too long our community has been terrorized by hate violence. And today, the US Senate has sent a clear message to every corner of our country that we will no longer turn a blind eye to anti-gay violence in America," he said. Ref: 365gay.com, UK Gay News (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Friday, 28th September 2007 - 11:48am