thedarksiren2 | One last tid-bit I almost forgot to mention

or at least share:

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."

"This is an historic moment," said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. "The introduction of this bill marks the first time members of Congress have openly expressed the need for explicit federal protections for transgender people."

The HRC specifically commended the transgender-inclusive language of the bill.

"Transgender and gay Americans deserve the same clear protections against hate crimes as other Americans," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "We're proud that for the first time legislation will be introduced that explicitly covers the entire gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, and the community will have an unambiguous shot at equal protection under the hate crimes law. We thank our coalition partners and especially our allies in the House of Representatives for their work in securing this language."

Co-sponsors of the bill include Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass; Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla.; John Conyers Jr., D-Mich; Christopher Shays, R-Conn. and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.

Labonte told the PlanetOut Network the Senate is expected to pass a similar version of the bill this year.

According to a 2002 HRC-commissioned poll, two-thirds of voters favor having hate crime laws that cover transgender people.

"The public support is there," said Solmonese.

"Congress should act swiftly to ensure local law enforcement agencies have the tools they need from the federal government to combat hate crimes against the entire gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community," he added. "I urge LGBT Americans and allies to call your members of Congress, urge them to co-sponsor this critical legislation or thank them if they already have."

For the record and as of today, Ohio reps sponsored this already, according to the HRC. ~8D

To read the actual article, go here.