CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
After several twists and turns and more than two hours of debate, the Utah house of representatives approved a bill to increase penalties for hate-motivated crimes. After six years of attempts, the 38-35 vote Thursday night was the first time a hate-crimes bill has been approved in the Utah house. During the vote there was complete silence in the house chamber, and immediately following the decision those in the public gallery burst into applause. "I always believed we could get it done," said the bill's sponsor, Rep. David Litvack. "But am I surprised after all that debate? Absolutely." The bill would levy harsher penalties for people who threaten or commit acts of violence or vandalism against someone because of their bias against the victim's race, color, gender, disability, nationality, ancestry, religion, or sexual orientation. It will now go to the senate for consideration. In the last five years conservative lawmakers have consistently voted hate-crimes proposals down, arguing that the measures would give specials rights to minorities, especially gay people. Opponents of the bill argued Thursday that all crimes are hate crimes and that all people are hurt by these crimes. Proponents of hate-crimes sentencing enhancements were optimistic that a statement from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would help the bill pass. The statement read that the denomination's leaders do not oppose the bill. "The church abhors all hate crimes. The church's well-known opposition to attempts to legalize same-gender marriage should never be interpreted as justification for hatred, intolerance, or abuse of those who profess homosexual tendencies, either individually or as a group," the statement read.
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
31 Period Films of Lesbians and Bi Women in Love That Will Take You Back
December 09 2024 1:00 PM
18 of the most batsh*t things N.C. Republican governor candidate Mark Robinson has said
October 30 2024 11:06 AM
True
After 20 years, and after tonight, Obama will no longer be the Democrats' top star
August 20 2024 12:28 PM
Trump ally Laura Loomer goes after Lindsey Graham: ‘We all know you’re gay’
September 13 2024 2:28 PM
Melania Trump cashed six-figure check to speak to gay Republicans at Mar-a-Lago
August 16 2024 5:57 PM
Latest Stories
Why we will never have another president like Jimmy Carter again
December 29 2024 6:19 PM
President Jimmy Carter dead at 100 — here's his history as an LGBTQ+ ally
December 29 2024 4:50 PM
Don't be 'weak & gay': Republican announces congressional run with controversial video
December 27 2024 3:51 PM
'A Complete Unknown's Timothée Chalamet, Monica Barbaro on music, gender & protest
December 27 2024 2:57 PM
Gender studies pioneer Judith Butler: Trans women won't erase cis women
December 27 2024 1:01 PM
Kyrsten Sinema defends filibuster in farewell address to Senate
December 26 2024 7:48 PM
Queer Latina-owned lemonade shop in San Antonio gets a business-saving grant from HRC
December 26 2024 5:22 PM
Abercrombie & Fitch’s former CEO Mike Jeffries has dementia, his lawyers say
December 26 2024 3:03 PM
Georgia couple sentenced to 100 years in prison for sexual abuse of adopted kids
December 26 2024 2:37 PM
New York City man bleeds out in his husband's arms after fatal stabbing
December 26 2024 12:49 PM
TikTok is obsessed with this 90-year-old who just came out after 63-year lavender marriage
December 25 2024 10:51 AM
The 25 best queer films of the century so far
December 25 2024 10:48 AM
2024's best (and hottest) queer art & photography
December 25 2024 10:46 AM
Extensive cover-up effort revealed in L.A. County deputy's beating of trans man
December 24 2024 4:51 PM