It was announced last Thursday that the new hate crime bill will be named after Matthew Shepard. Supporters are expecting that Congress wil enact a bill that widens the Federal Penalties for crimes done against homosexuals.
Matthew Shepard was a 21 year old victim of a hate crime in Wyoming (1998). He was brutally beaten and then tied to a fence.
Both the Democratic and Republican parties have tried, for nearly a decade, to legislate a hate crime bill. However, staunch supporters are confident that this bill will reach President Bush's hands aided by the more sympathetic Democratic majority as compared to the previous GOP leaders.
The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Gordon Smith (R/Oregon) and Sen. Edward Kennedy, (D/Massachusetts). Sen. Smith believes that: "...we'll be more successful" after the bill was named. Smith is also confident despite potential opposition from Religious groups, saying: "This act is about the prosecution of crime, not prohibition of
speech," Smith said. "Unless they believe part of their religion is the
practice of violence against others, they should not be affected by
this bill."
***If this bill is approved, it would be a huge step for empowering gay people in America. I believe that Religion shouldn't view this issue through rose-tinted glasses (as it always has) becasue we are talking about basic human rights here. I hope Christians remember how people of our faith were persecuted throughout the years and how we are acting similarly to our detractors now. Lastly, I hope such a law be enacted locally as well. I'm not saying this because Filipino's are exceptionally violent against gays, it's just that gay people aren't given the same amount of respect and importance in this country and I'm sorry to admit that this is due , in LARGE part, to the Church's chokehold on the government.
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