The Hate Crimes law is being debated in Congress

[dsc]

More than a few prominent anti gay hate crimes have come to the fore in the last couple of weeks. A New Mexico case where a kid was beaten all night long to change him straight. A Colorado case where a kid was beaten up by 6 of his classmates. A Michigan case where a 72 year old man was beaten to death with a pipe. The last couple of days we have had several threads about bullying and more than a few of the posters were gay and bullied for being gay. Some were spat on, some pissed on, some beaten, some banned from school busses, and others just humiliated.

The lack of a hate crime statute protecting gays and lesbians is an enduring testiment to our second class status. One of the things that makes me angriest about the death of Matthew Shepard is coming up on 10 years later we have no change in laws to show for it. We finally have a Democratic Congress. Please write them. It is time for a hate crime bill to pass.

[Chulanowa]

1. Definately important

The harder the hate-filled sorts fight against this legislation, the more willing the people it would punish are to indulge, under the reasoning that it must be okay if it's still "legal"

K&R

[uppityperson]

2. k&r

[nuxvomica]

3. I just emailed my rep. Thanks for posting,

I had to look up the name of the bill. It's called the "Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act" in the House and the "Matthew Shepard Act" in the Senate. Folks really need to write their reps on this because there's a huge coalition fighting it, mostly with disinformation.

[dsc]

4. kick