Ten years of debate over the inclusion of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression in federal hate crimes legislation ended yesterday when President Barack Obama signed The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law.
"After more than a decade of opposition and delay, we've passed inclusive hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray or who they are," the President remarked in a speech following the signing.
The new hate crimes legislation expands the scope of bias-based crimes to include gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. Of the 7,624 hate crimes in 2007, more than half were racially motivated and 17% because of sexual orientation.
Image: U.S. President Barack Obama applauds after delivering remarks following the enactment of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
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