Freaking COOL! It is long past time that this becomes the law of the land. It looks like President Obama will be signing this and this is the first time that there has been a federal law that including protection on the basis of sexual orientation.
I first came out publicly when commenting on a second degree murder conviction of 2 men in the killing of a local gay man. Protecting on the basis of sexual orientation is just as important as protecting on the basis of religion, race or gender.
We become a more just society when everyone is protected!
Good job by everyone! Looking forward to the happy news of President Obama signing this into law.
Hate crimes passes Senate: Goes to President's desk
Filed by: Bil Browning
October 22, 2009 5:30 PM
As expected, the Senate passed the defense authorization bill this afternoon on a bipartisan vote of 68-29. Hate crimes legislation has already passed both houses of Congress, but the entire bill had to be voted on again after differences in the two versions of the defense bill were worked out.
The House version of the consolidated bill passed October 6 - just in time for the National Equality March and Obama's speech to the Human Rights Campaign's national dinner. The bill goes to the President's desk for his signature next. President Obama is expected to sign the legislation soon.
This legislation is vitally important for states like Indiana which doesn't have a hate crimes law thanks to our state legislators lack of support for our community our an ineffective state-wide LGBT organization. The message of the National Equality March rings true for me today. Our lack of progress in our state has been salvaged by federal action. The only way we're going to gain our rights is via federal law.
Hate crimes passes Senate: Goes to President's desk | The Bilerico Project
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