FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | October 8, 2009

The National Center for Lesbian Rights Hails Congressional Action on Hate Crimes Bill

A Statement from NCLR Legal Director
Shannon Price Minter

(Washington, DC, October 8, 2009) — Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) applauds the United States House of Representatives for taking action and voting to expand hate crimes protections. The House voted 281-146 in favor of a joint House-Senate “conference report” on a defense authorization measure that also includes the provisions that would expand the definition of federal hate crimes to cover attacks based on gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and military service. The hate crimes provision has been aptly renamed “The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.” Among other things, this Act would give the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Death penalty provisions that raised concerns and were previously included in the Senate measure are not included in the conference report, which now proceeds to the Senate for its final vote in Congress, which could take place as early as next week. President Obama has vowed to sign the bill.

Statement from Shannon Price Minter, Legal Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights:

“Today’s House vote brings us one step closer to the day when hate crimes based on actual or perceived gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation, and military service are outlawed nationwide. We applaud all those who voted for this measure and the families who have lost loved ones and worked so hard to bring an end to hate violence. When this measure is signed by the President, it will be a brighter day in this country.”

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.
www.nclrights.org.

back to press center