AG to Senate: Pass Hate Crime Bill

U.S. attorney general Eric Holder urged a Senate committee to advance a hate-crimes bill that would increase authorities' abilities to heavily prosecute bias-motivated crimes.

By Michelle Garcia

U.S. attorney general Eric Holder Thursday urged a Senate committee to advance a hate-crimes bill that would increase authorities' abilities to heavily prosecute bias-motivated crimes.

The bill, known as the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, would expand current prosecution laws and protect LGBT crime victims.

Holder mentioned his testimony on a nearly identical bill to the senate in July 1998. Just months after Holder's appearance before Senate members, Shepard was brutally murdered in Laramie, Wyo. Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson targeted Shepard because he was gay.

"While it is unfortunate that 11 years have come and gone without this bill becoming law, I am confident that we can make the important protections that it offers a reality this year," Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday. The number of hate crimes reported in 1998 (7,755) has been more or less unchanged since then -- 7,624 reported in 2007.

"During the last decade, religiously motivated incidents have generally accounted for the second highest number of hate-crime incidents, followed closely by sexual orientation bias incidents," Holder said. Between 1998 and 2007, he added, 12,372 hate crimes based on sexual orientation have been reported.

"Since the year I first testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on hate crimes legislation, there have been over 77,000 hate-crime incidents reported to the FBI, not counting crimes committed in 2008 and 2009." he said. "That is nearly one hate crime every hour of every day over a decade."

In addition to Shepard's case, Holder mentioned other crimes, including the murders of gay man Sean Kennedy in 2007 and transgender woman Emoine Spaulding in 2003. The attorney general also stressed that President Obama is backing the bill, which is similar to legislation he cosponsored as a senator.

The House of Representatives passed the Matthew Shepard Act in April. The Senate version is sponsored by Ted Kennedy.

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Name: ron r larson
Date posted: 7/16/2009 8:47:00 PM
Hometown: lansing ia

Comment:
The gays are living in sin.It is a choice to be gay or evil same thing I know for I chose to be bisexual.Wake up and turn from your sin as I did.In your heart you all know it is wrong against nature against GOD who created you and all things.Free will is GODS gift to us all do not live in the evil ways of the DEVI.I am forgiven and so are you.Trust me if you want to be free from this heavy burden of sin then REPENT in private or public in either case GOD sees all.Know you this your sin shall find you out.Please believe me Satan is REAL and so is GOD.Do nothing and stay in this lifestyle and your freewill will have chosen Satan.He hates you and I and everyone.I am no better then you I was just like you.I believed his lies I was wrong I was so wrong.Jesus sees you and loves you but he and GOD are angry.These are the END TIMES.Turn from your sin and be forgiven turn from your sin and receive GODS full blessings.As I said GOD sees all and loves you. Come back to Jesus chose eternal life
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Name: Robert Rosenberg
Date posted: 6/25/2009 10:20:00 PM
Hometown: Port Angeles WA

Comment:
It is great that the Department of Justice has come out for the hate crimes legislation but what about the homophobic brief it filed in the DOMA case. When is Mr. Holder or better yet, Mr. Obama going to explain why they did that hateful act. Mr. Holders words on this bill are just another very small bone that the administration is throwing out to the gay community. We must not be lulled into thinking that they really care about the community. While the legislation is important, it is more a symbol than something that will affect my everyday life. Doing away with DOMA would have a very significant impact on my life for many reasons, most particularly the right to participate in my partner's benefits and he in mine. I have far greater concerns about having to go uninsured than being gay-bashed.
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Name: Ginelle
Date posted: 6/25/2009 7:12:00 PM
Hometown: British Columbia, Canada

Comment:
This bill is long, long overdue! So many wonderful and loving people have suffered at the hands of bigots, bullies and other assorted intollerant and ignorant no minds. It would be very interesting to see, if this law finally passes, if some of these religious groups would finally be nailed to the wall for their inciting hatred, which they rightfully deserve.
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Name: Brian M
Date posted: 6/25/2009 3:35:00 PM
Hometown: Indianapolis

Comment:
Suddently there is all kind of movement on LGBT issues this month. Could it be our voices are loud enough for them to hear now. or just fear of loosing our money.
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Name: Brandi Parker
Date posted: 6/25/2009 3:35:00 PM
Hometown: Roanoke

Comment:
The Right will kill this again since our Democratic senators are spinless and won't fight for us.....but mark my words they'll be back asking us for another vote and another change to go try again........year after year they promise us they will go to Washington and fight for us fight for laws to protect us and make our lives better yet when it comes time to speak up and fight .......they can't be found or they make a deal with the other side of the isle to get something else..... NEVER IS IT SOMETHING FOR THE lgbt COMMUNITY. Brandi Parker

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