Date: Fri, 23 Jul 99 11:08:22 -0500 From: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Subject: [NGLTF PRESS] NGLTF Hails Senate Passage of Hate Crimes Act ************************************************ NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: David Elliot, Communications Director delliot@ngltf.org TEL 202/332-6483 x3303, PAGER 800/757-6476 1700 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20009 http://www.ngltf.org ************************************************ NGLTF HAILS HISTORIC SENATE VOTE ON HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT "Keep up the heat," NGLTF's Kerry Lobel urges community JULY 23, 1999‹For the first time ever, the U.S. Senate has approved the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which would expand the existing hate crimes statute to cover disability status, gender and sexual orientation and would make it easier for federal authorities to prosecute crimes of violence. Without discussion or debate, Senators approved the measure Thursday evening as an amendment to S. 1217, the Commerce, Justice, State appropriations bill. Because the House version of the budget bill does not include the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the ultimate fate of the measure in this Congress rests on the conference committee action between the House and the Senate. "This is the first concrete action taken by either chamber since America buried Matthew Shepard, James Byrd Jr., Billy Jack Gaither, and many transgendered people whose names and faces do not make the newspapers," said Kerry Lobel, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "It is a good first step. But we have a long way to go and we must now turn to the House and tell our representatives how critically important this legislation is. In short, we must keep up the heat." The amendment approved by the Senate late Thursday will expand federal authority to prosecute hate crimes. Currently, federal officials can only intervene if a victim is engaged in a federally protected act such as attempting to vote, go to school or serve on a jury. Federal officials cannot intervene at all in hate crimes based on disability, sexual orientation or gender. The Senate also passed a watered-down amendment by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, that does not cover sexual orientation, disability or gender and would only expand federal jurisdiction to hate crimes committed after the crossing of state lines. "The Hatch amendment fails to recognize that no one should be a target for bias-motivated violence," Lobel said. "Hate crimes legislation that doesn't cover sexual orientation, disability and gender is a farce." Earlier this month, Missouri became the 22nd state (plus the District of Columbia) to enact hate crimes legislation that includes sexual orientation. _____________________________________________________________________ Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have a question regarding this post, please direct it to the contact at the top of this message. If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to . You may also unsubscribe by visiting http://www.ngltf.org.