April 30, 2009

The U.S. House has passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Precent Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act, today by a vote of 249-175.
This decision comes after an official statement from President Obama urging the House of Representatives to pass the legislation and shortly after Rep. Virgina Foxx referred to Matthew Shepard's hate-motivated murder as "a hoax."
Matthew Shepard's mother Judy Shepard responded to the decision saying, "No one should face violence simply because of who they are. This bill is a critical step to erasing the hate that has devastated far too many families."

“Everyone in this country deserves a chance to pursue the American dream free from intimidation and persecution,” said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, who is Vice Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus and cosponsor of the measure. “Every hate crime is an attack on the liberty and equality valued by every American. This legislation will provide state and local law enforcement agencies with resources they need to investigate and prosecute hate crimes, while also protecting the exercise of free speech and religious expression provided under our Constitution.”

Matt Kailey, editor of Out Front Colorado said, "The passage of the Matthew Shepard Act in the House today brings us one step closer to full equality for GLBT people by recognizing that our lives are just as valuable as anyone else's. Adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the federal hate crimes statute does not create a special class of people or give GLBT people special recognition or special rights. What it does is recognize that preying on a GLBT person because of his or her GLBT status victimizes an entire community rather than just one person.

It also brings us closer to eliminating the ridiculous "trans panic" and "gay panic" defenses that have been used for too long as excuses to commit crimes of violence against GLBT people."