By: P.J. Wascher
Washington D.C. - The House of Representatives has passed legislation today that now makes it a federal crime to assault people because of their sexual orientation. This is expected to pass the Senate soon, attached to a must-pass defense policy bill. Once passed federal prosecutors will be able to intervene in cases of violence against gays for the first time. Trying For More Than A Decade
Civil rights groups have been trying for more than a decade to broaden the hate crimes bill. The late Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts was longtime advocate of the legislation.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was excited to see Congress pass the hate hrimes legislation she says it has been on her agenda since entering Congress 22 years ago.
"It's a very exciting day for us here in the Capitol," Pelosi said.
Not All In Favor
While Republicans are often in favor of defense bills, many voted against the bill because of the addition of what they are calling "thought crimes bills." Some GOP opponents worried that the new bill would infringe upon religious speech freedoms. Specifically if a violent act against gays was later attributed to the sermons of a pastor expressing their beliefs about homosexuality.
Supporters of the legislation have countered that argument saying that no pastor could be targeted for expressing opposition to homosexuality.
There are over 8,000 hate crimes reported in the country each year. 45 states already have hate crime statutes.
