House Expands Hate Crime Legislation

The House voted Thursday 281 to 146 to expand federal hate crime legislation to include gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.

The Senate must pass the hate crimes extension, attached to a $681 billion military policy bill, before it becomes law.

Aren't violent crimes already illegal?
Yes, heinous crimes are punishable by law; but when a crime is "labelled" as a hate crime under federal guidelines, local law enforcement agencies that are often overburdened and under financed can receive federal funding and assistance with solving these crimes.

Current federal laws define hate crimes as those motivated by the victim's race, color, religion or national origin. The new legislation broadens the scope of what's considered a hate crime to include violent acts based on bias against a person's gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Image: Judy Shepard, whose son Matthew was killed in an anti-gay hate crime in rural Wyoming, addresses a symbolic group commitment ceremony for same-sex couples. © Getty