Hate Crimes Law Signed: Protection For The LGBT Community

October 29, 2009

By Meghan Chavalier

Today we have finally made progress when it comes to hate crimes in the United States of America. The new law, which President Barack Obama signed adds acts of violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to the list of federal hate crimes.

This is the entire reason I started this website almost a year and a half ago, to finally have something written into law that would protect all members of the LGBT Community. I sat in my office today and realized that even though this law has been passed there is still so much more to do for the LGBT Community.

All of you, everyone in the LGBT Community and those who support our fight for equal rights know that this is a major step towards ending homophobia in our country and at least now, we know, that if someone commits an act of violence towards us in the future the penalties will be much more severe and not taken lightly as they have in the past. Hate crimes are punishable by law, and that now includes our community. I do hope that this will make people who would even think of committing a crime against someone in our community, stop, and realize that the consequences of their actions will ultimately end with them in a prison cell.

I was unsure about President Obama since he's been elected when it came to issues involving the LGBT Community, but today, my mind is starting to change. I feel that he is beginning to make good on the promises that he made to us for change, and I believe that over the next years of his Presidency he will show us that he is the man who will bring about major change in our country.

The United States of America and it's people need to realize that we are all not the same. That's what makes this country such a great one. We should welcome each other's differences and learn to accept them. You don't have to agree with everything, but you should at least be willing to meet someone half way when it comes to differences between you. There should be no room for hatred in any civilized society. There is no reason to hate someone because they are different than you, and there is no reason that every person in the United States of America shouldn't have the same equal rights and protections.

There were many Republicans who voiced their opinions about this new law, and that was to be expected, but not acceptable. When you are an elected official, your job means you work for ALL people, not just some of them. You cannot pick and choose which Americans you want to stand up for. You were elected into your office to protect ALL Americans. Speaking out against this law, is like telling the world you're a homophobe and you don't believe in equal rights for ALL Americans, which leads me to wonder how you ended up being elected in the first place.

Homophobia will not end overnight but at least now we have a law that protects us. This is a very important day for our community, but it is also a day that we must remember those who have lost their lives to anti-gay violence. We must remember those who are not here to see this law passed, the ones whose lives were taken from them too soon. They must never be forgotten.

Peace. That is what I wish for all of you.