Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill makes it to Obama's desk!

October 22, 3:11 PMSF LGBT Issues ExaminerEric Ross

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Today, the U.S. Senate passed the conference report for the FY 2010 Defense Authorization bill (which included the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act) by a vote of 68 to 29. The bill is now on its way to the President’s desk. President Obama has repeatedly and publically announced his support for the bill and is expected to sign it before the end of the month.

“We look forward to President Obama signing it into law; our nation’s first major piece of civil rights legislation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Too many in our community have been devastated by hate violence.  We now can begin the important steps to erasing hate in our country.”

The bill previously had a provision in it that would make the death penalty available for hate crimes; however the Defense Authorization conference report removed the death penalty portion. The hate crimes provision was also renamed to honor James Byrd, an African-American man who was dragged to death in Jasper, Texas. The hate crimes provision is now titled, “The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.”

Once signed by Obama, the Justice Department will have the power to investigate and take legal action against bias-motivated violence where the perpetrator has targeted the victim because of the person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The Justice Department will also be able to take the lead in investigations of bias motivated violent crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury when local authorities are unwilling or unable to do so.
Today’s vote was the 14th time there has been a floor vote on this historic legislation. The HRC has published a timeline of the development of hate crimes legislation. You can see it by clicking here.

After this bill is signed by Obama, the LGBT community will have the following 3 other major pieces of Federal legislation to pass:

• The Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA)
• The repeal of both the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
• Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT)  

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