President Obama signs first federal transgender protections into law

October 28, 6:39 PMTransgender & Transsexual Issues ExaminerMatt Kailey

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President Barack Obama

White House Photo

Upon President Obama’s signing today, October 28, 2009, of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) issued the following press release:

President Obama has just signed into law the very first protections for transgender people in U.S. history: the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

“This is a powerful day as the United States government, for the first time, stands up and declares that violence against transgender people is wrong and will not be tolerated in our country,” stated Mara Keisling, Executive Director of NCTE. “Every day transgender people live with the reality and the threat of personal violence, simply because of who they are. This must end and it must end now. The new law provides for some vital first steps in preventing these terrible crimes as well as addressing them when they occur. At NCTE, we are dedicating this day to all those who have been victims of hate-motivated violence as well as recommitting ourselves to ending the epidemic of hate that continues to damage our communities and our country.”

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which adds sexual orientation, gender identity, gender and disability to existing law, will have a number of positive impacts for transgender people:

• It will help educate law enforcement about the frequent hate violence against transgender people and the need to prevent and appropriately address it.
• It will help provide federal expertise and resources when they are needed to overcome a lack of resources or the willful inaction on the part of local and/or state law enforcement.
• It will help educate the public that violence against anyone, including transgender people, is unacceptable and illegal.

Most importantly, this law marks a turning point for the federal government, by including positive protections for transgender people and taking seriously the need to address the discrimination that we face.

NCTE invites you to light a candle tonight; we have held so many vigils for victims of violence. Tonight, let us light a candle as a sign of our commitment to ending violence and in honor of this new day in transgender history. Let us have a Vigil for Victory.