SalzbergPage
Virgin
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2009
- Posts
- 8
Hi Folks,
Just passing on this message from Human Rights First, in support of the proposed Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909). They're asking US folks to contact their senators in support of the act. (Be aware that there are some descriptions of homophobic violence below.)
"The brutal murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming sent shock waves through the nation over a decade ago. You may remember the story: the 21-year-old gay student was beaten, tortured, tied to a fence, and left for dead. His rescuer thought he was a scarecrow when he saw him. Shepard died in the hospital five days later.
Over ten years later, violence driven by bias based on a person's sexual orientation is on the rise and still not prosecutable as a hate crime in 20 states. And federal hate crime legislation extends to race, religion, or national origin, but not to sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.
Finally, we are set to remedy this situation. The U.S. Senate is set to vote any day on the aptly named Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909). Help get this critical legislation passed – write to your senator today.
This bill will strengthen hate crimes protection for all Americans – not just some – by allowing for federal involvement in certain cases of crimes of violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
Importantly, the bill would also makes grants available to state and local communities to train law enforcement officers or assist in state and local investigations and prosecutions of bias-motivated crimes.
The family of Sean Kennedy may have appreciated this protection two years ago. A 20-year old gay man, Kennedy was leaving a bar in South Carolina when a man shouted homophobic epithets, while punching him hard enough to knock him onto the asphalt. One of Kennedy's friends later received a voicemail saying, "You tell your faggot friend when he wakes up, he owes me five hundred dollars for my broken hand." Kennedy never woke up. He died in a hospital later that evening from injuries suffered during the attack.
Although local law enforcement wanted to prosecute the case as a hate crime, they couldn't, because South Carolina has no hate crime law, and the federal statute doesn't apply to violence based on sexual orientation bias.
Such disturbing cases go on – but we can help prevent them by ensuring that law enforcement officials have the tools at their disposal to adequately respond. Please, help us stand up against all hate crimes. Contact your Senator today to urge passage of this bill.
Sincerely,
Paul LeGendre
Director, Fighting Discrimination program
Human Rights First"
Just passing on this message from Human Rights First, in support of the proposed Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909). They're asking US folks to contact their senators in support of the act. (Be aware that there are some descriptions of homophobic violence below.)
"The brutal murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming sent shock waves through the nation over a decade ago. You may remember the story: the 21-year-old gay student was beaten, tortured, tied to a fence, and left for dead. His rescuer thought he was a scarecrow when he saw him. Shepard died in the hospital five days later.
Over ten years later, violence driven by bias based on a person's sexual orientation is on the rise and still not prosecutable as a hate crime in 20 states. And federal hate crime legislation extends to race, religion, or national origin, but not to sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.
Finally, we are set to remedy this situation. The U.S. Senate is set to vote any day on the aptly named Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909). Help get this critical legislation passed – write to your senator today.
This bill will strengthen hate crimes protection for all Americans – not just some – by allowing for federal involvement in certain cases of crimes of violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
Importantly, the bill would also makes grants available to state and local communities to train law enforcement officers or assist in state and local investigations and prosecutions of bias-motivated crimes.
The family of Sean Kennedy may have appreciated this protection two years ago. A 20-year old gay man, Kennedy was leaving a bar in South Carolina when a man shouted homophobic epithets, while punching him hard enough to knock him onto the asphalt. One of Kennedy's friends later received a voicemail saying, "You tell your faggot friend when he wakes up, he owes me five hundred dollars for my broken hand." Kennedy never woke up. He died in a hospital later that evening from injuries suffered during the attack.
Although local law enforcement wanted to prosecute the case as a hate crime, they couldn't, because South Carolina has no hate crime law, and the federal statute doesn't apply to violence based on sexual orientation bias.
Such disturbing cases go on – but we can help prevent them by ensuring that law enforcement officials have the tools at their disposal to adequately respond. Please, help us stand up against all hate crimes. Contact your Senator today to urge passage of this bill.
Sincerely,
Paul LeGendre
Director, Fighting Discrimination program
Human Rights First"
