Senate may act on hate-crimes measure

By Tom Strode - May 31, 2004 - comment

An effort to pass hate-crimes legislation that will expand homosexual rights may occur soon in the U.S. Senate. Sens. Orrin Hatch, R.-Utah, and Gordon Smith, R.-Ore., are planning to seek approval of the measure as an amendment to the authorization bill for the Department of Defense, Concerned Women for America has reported.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D.-Mass., is the sponsor of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, S. 966, which has 49 cosponsors. The bill would expand hate crimes legislation to include “sexual orientation” as a category for protection, thereby providing homosexuality with the same civil rights protection as race, national origin and religion.

Supporters of the Hatch-Smith proposal say it is not as radical as the Kennedy version, but it still is burdened by some of the same problems, according to CWA.

Opponents of the measure describe it as “thought crime” legislation and warn it will be used against those who speak out in opposition to homosexual rights.

You may contact your senators by calling the Capitol switchboard, (202) 224-3121.

Further Learning

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