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Mathew Shepard Hate Crimes Act Passes U.S. House

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, also known as the Mathew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, has passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a 249 to 175 vote. A total of 231 Democrats voted in favor of the legislation with 17 voting against, while 18 Republicans voted for the legislation with 158 voting against.

Supporters have been pushing the measure for a decade. Majorities in both houses of Congress have approved the bill in previous years, but it has been eliminated in conference committees when attached to larger bills — under the threat of a possible veto by former President George W. Bush.

A statement issued by Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “Throughout our history, this nation has sought to uphold the ideals of our founding – that all are created equal and endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today, with the passage of federal hate crimes legislation, we have affirmed these ideals and the inclusiveness that our nation stands for by extending the protection of its laws to all: ‘one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’

“All Americans have a fundamental right to feel safe in their communities. This legislation will help protect Americans against violence based on sexual orientation, race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, or gender identity.”

“Congress has been debating federal hate crimes legislation for 17 years. It was more than 10 years ago that Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered. The time for debate is long over. I am proud that today the House has acted and in so doing, honored this nation’s commitment to the ideals of justice, equality and opportunity.”

Hate crimes against the LGBT community have increased 24 percent nationwide in 2007, yet during the floor debate on the bill, North Carolina Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx reiterated the popular right-wing argument today as she said the idea that Matthew Shepard was murdered because he was gay amounted to nothing more than a “hoax,” as Judy Shepard, Matthews mother, looked on from the House gallery. Others said extending hate crimes protections to LGBT’s could severely restrict religious freedom.

Video of an attempt to call the Mathew Shepard murder a lie.