(Video) Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin made this statement on the House Passage of H.R. 1913. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 which passed the House Wednesday by a bipartisan vote of 249-175. Congresswoman Baldwin said, “The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act gives state, local & federal law enforcement authorities the necessary resources & tools to combat violent crimes based on prejudice & intended to terrorize an entire group or community. Equally important, this legislation sends the clear message that hate-based violence targeting women, gays & lesbians, transgender individuals & people with disabilities will no longer be tolerated. Hate crimes demand a strong, federal response because this country was founded on the premise that all people should be free to be who they are – without fear of violence. This legislation adds the categories of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity & disability to existing protections for crimes based on race, color, religion & national origin. We passed this bill not to provide a group of people with “special protection,” but because of a history of heinous, violent crimes intended to terrorize individuals who share these characteristics. I’m gratified by my colleagues’ bipartisan support for this measure & look forward to swift Senate passage and Presidential signing in the coming months.”
For More Info: Baldwin Archive Interview
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The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation called on the nation's media to scrutinize the statement made by Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) on the floor of the House of Representatives claiming that the 1998 hate crime murder of Matthew Shepard was "a hoax."
While arguing against the legislation, Foxx said: "The hate crimes bill that's called the Matthew Shepard Bill [sic] is named after a very unfortunate incident that happened where a young man was killed. But we know that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn't because he was gay. The bill was named for him, the hate crimes bill was named for him, but it's, it's really a hoax, that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills."
"Congresswoman Foxx's comments are repugnant and should be condemned by all fair-minded people in the strongest possible terms," said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. "We urge media to expose Foxx's falsehood and her malicious disregard for the basic facts of this case."
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