Obama signs Hate Crimes Bill - First LGBT legislation passed on Federal level

President Barack Obama (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

History was made when Obama was elected as the first African American President of the United Sates. Today, Obama made history again when he passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This is the first piece of legislation that has ever specifically included the LGBT community.

“We applaud President Obama for signing this bill into law and thank the leadership and our allies in the House and Senate, said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.   We also will always remember the tireless efforts of Senator Edward Kennedy on this issue.  Senator Kennedy once said that this legislation sends ‘a message about freedom and equality that will resonate around the world.’   This marks the first time that we as a nation have explicitly protected the LGBT community in the law.  And this law sends a loud message that perpetrators of hate violence against anyone will be brought to justice.”

“We appreciate everyone who worked so hard on this bill.  My son was taken at such an early age and we hope this law will help prevent other families from going through what we experienced,” said Stella Byrd, mother of James Byrd.  “Even though we’re different colors and different sexual orientations or gender identities, God made us all and he loves us all.”

“We are incredibly grateful to Congress and the president for taking this step forward on behalf of hate crime victims and their families, especially given the continuing attacks on people simply for living their lives openly and honestly,” said Judy Shepard, executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.  “But each of us can and must do much more to ensure true equality for all Americans.”

Now that the LGBT community is protected under Federal Law, it should make it a bit easier to repeal other homophobic laws in the country by showing they discriminate against a protected class. There are still three other major pieces of federal legislation that the LGBT community is expecting action on: the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), and the passing of the Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA).

"It’s good that the U.S. government has finally taken action to deter hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people” said Tanner Efinger of Equality Across America, “but by continuing to permit or even require discrimination against LGBT people in our relationships, in public service and in the workplace, the government fuels the very bigotry that results in violent attacks."

Passage of the Act shows that escalated protest over the past year, such as at the National Equality March (NEM) on October 11th, is putting significant pressure on Congress to address anti-LGBT discrimination.

"We applaud and congratulate Matthew Shepard's mom, Judy, who has inspired so many over the last eleven years and did so again when she spoke at the National Equality March, this October," said Robin McGehee, co-director of the NEM that occurred in Washington DC earlier this month. "She has truly shown what being a fierce advocate for equality and justice is truly about, even after facing such a horrible tragedy based in hate."

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