Just passing this announcement on from The Matthew Shepard Foundation. They report that we are,
ONE STEP CLOSER TO ERASING HATE!
In the midst of congressional resolutions that urge us to hate Moslems, Arabs, Iran, and Palestinians, sometimes this Democratic congress pulls one off that goes against the grain of our evangelical uber religious nature. It just passed an act to protect homosexuals from hate crimes.
The Matthew Shepard Act sends a bold and unmistakable message that violent crimes committed in the name of hate must end.
Judy and Dennis Shepard
Casper, WY – September 27, 2007 – The Matthew Shepard Foundation applauds today’s passage of the historic Matthew Shepard Act — inclusive federal hate crimes legislation.
“Today’s Senate vote sends a bold and unmistakable message that violent crimes committed in the name of hate must end,” said Judy and Dennis Shepard, Matthew Shepard’s parents. “The Matthew Shepard Act is an essential step to erasing hate in America and we are humbled that it bears our son’s name. It has been almost nine years since Matthew was taken from us. This bill is a fitting tribute to his memory and to all of those who have lost their lives to hate.”
“We are especially thankful to Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) for their unwavering leadership in ensuring the passage of this bill,” said Judy Shepard, Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
“For far too long this important piece of civil rights legislation has been misconstrued and distorted by its opponents,” continued Judy Shepard. “Both Houses of Congress overcame the lies and misinformation claiming the bill would take away our rights to free expression and religious liberty. Nothing could be further from the truth. Today we join with millions of Americans to encourage the White House to follow Congress and ensure that the Matthew Shepard Act becomes law.”
The legislation is formally entitled, the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 1105). It was offered as a bipartisan amendment by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) to the Department of Defense authorization bill currently before the U.S. Senate. The virtually identical House version of the bill passed overwhelmingly on May 3rd, 2007 with a bipartisan vote of 237 to 180 as an appropriate and measured response to the unrelenting and under-addressed problem of hates crimes against individuals based on sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability.
The Matthew Shepard Foundation also asks that you call your senators and thank them for supporting the Matthew Shepard Act.
This is a historic time for America! Now that the Matthew Shepard Act has passed through the Senate, it is important for your leaders to be thanked. CALL NOW & THANK YOUR SENATORS for their support of the Matthew Shepard Act.
CALL – (202) 224-3121: Ask for your Senators
What more can one say. We are in a phase of political change, one that might bring America back to its civil and human rights leadership at home and around the world. Liberal Democrats have been absent for too long.