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Senate OKs Bill Giving Gays Hate-Crime Protection

Named for Shepard, it now heads to Obama

By the Associated Press

Posted Oct 22, 2009 7:32 PM CDT

(AP) – Physical attacks on people based on their sexual orientation will join the list of federal hate crimes in a major expansion of the civil rights-era law Congress approved today and sent to President Obama. The measure, on the congressional agenda for a decade, expands current law to include crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability; it is named for Matthew Shepard, the gay Wyoming college student murdered 11 years ago.

To assure its passage after years of frustrated efforts, Democratic supporters attached the measure to a must-pass $680 billion defense policy bill the Senate approved 68-29. The House passed the defense bill earlier this month. Many Republicans, normally staunch supporters of defense bills, voted against the bill because of the hate-crimes provision.

The bill headed to President Obama is named for Matthew Shepard, the college student beaten and left to die in 1998, reportedly for being openly gay.
The bill headed to President Obama is named for Matthew Shepard, the college student beaten and left to die in 1998, reportedly for being openly gay.   (AP Photo)
Judy Shepard, center, the mother of Matthew Shepard, waits to speak at the National Equality March in Washington, Oct. 11, 2009.
Judy Shepard, center, the mother of Matthew Shepard, waits to speak at the National Equality March in Washington, Oct. 11, 2009.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 21 comments
Face-Of-RNC
Nov 11, 2009 1:56 AM CST
You're thinking of christians again peader face.
SBS
Oct 24, 2009 12:36 PM CDT
DZ. Your right, no way this person is black.
OWLWOMANXXXX
Oct 23, 2009 12:54 PM CDT
it is a shame that such laws have to be written period

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