Jun. 1st, 2005
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House bill aims to expand hate crimes law
Eric Johnston, PlanetOut Network
Tuesday, May 24, 2005 / 12:09 PM
A bipartisan delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives plans to introduce a bill on Thursday that would add sexual orientation, gender identity, gender and disability to existing federal hate crimes legislation.
Congress enacted the existing hate crimes prevention law in 1968. It provides federal help to states and localities in prosecuting violent crimes motivated by a person's race, color, national origin or religion, and that occur while the victim is engaged in a specified federally protected activity.
"This new bill would do two things," said Chris Labonte, legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), an LGBT lobby group. "One, it would drop the requirement of the commission of federally protected activity, and two, it adds sexual orientation, gender identity, gender and disability."( Read more... )
House bill aims to expand hate crimes law
Eric Johnston, PlanetOut Network
Tuesday, May 24, 2005 / 12:09 PM
A bipartisan delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives plans to introduce a bill on Thursday that would add sexual orientation, gender identity, gender and disability to existing federal hate crimes legislation.
Congress enacted the existing hate crimes prevention law in 1968. It provides federal help to states and localities in prosecuting violent crimes motivated by a person's race, color, national origin or religion, and that occur while the victim is engaged in a specified federally protected activity.
"This new bill would do two things," said Chris Labonte, legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), an LGBT lobby group. "One, it would drop the requirement of the commission of federally protected activity, and two, it adds sexual orientation, gender identity, gender and disability."( Read more... )