HATE CRIMES BILL CLEARS SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE

FROM:  Pat Heck, Virginians for Justice   3/2/94

A Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted 5-1 today to recommend
HB889, the hate crimes bill that was stripped of "sexual orientation", to
the full Senate Courts of Justice Committee. 

HB889 is tentatively scheduled to be heard by the full committee on
Sunday, March 6 at 1:00pm.  VJ hopes to pressure the committee at that
hearing to restore the bill's original inclusive language, thereby
establishing protection for victims of hate crimes committed on the basis
of sexual orientation.  The full committee is conservative, so it will be
an uphill battle. 

We are lining up testimony from hate crimes victims and representatives of
civil and human rights and religious organizations, all requesting that
sexual orientation be added back into the legislation.  VJ has solicited
and received statements of support from religious leaders across the
Commonwealth, including the American Jewish Council, who withdrew their
support from HB889 because of the lack of protections for lesbians and
gays. 

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE PACK SENATE ROOM A in the General Assembly
Building in Richmond Sunday after- noon.  We need to present a
professional, but unified opposition to HB889 in its current watered-down
form. This is likely our last chance to affect the bill's language. 

If there is a schedule change it will be distributed over virginia-news. 

Please spread this information widely!

ACTION:  Attend the hearing on Mar. 6, and call the your state senator and
ask for a NO vote unless "sexual orientation" is put back in HB889.  Be
specific so they know that you support HB889 if the language is
reinstated. 

Call 1-800-889-0229 to leave messages for your senator. The people
answering the phone sometimes ask only if you support or oppose
legislation, so be sure they record your comments about the bill's
language.  Call your senator's office directly if you don't want to rely
on message takers. (numbers available from Legislative Services at
804-786-6530)

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