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House passes bill expanding hate crimes protection for gender and sexual orientation

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The US House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill that would expand protection from hate crimes by broadening the category of violations defined in the current law. The bill, which was approved by a vote of 249-175, would expand the definition of hate crimes to include attacks based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of a victim. The current federal hate crime law only protects crimes committed based on race, religion, color, or national origin. The legislation also includes a provision which directs the US attorney general to give priority to providing assistance in cases where an offender has committed a hate crime in more than one state and cases in rural jurisdictions. While the bill did meet some opposition, it had support of President Barack Obama, who said in statement prior to the vote, "I urge members on both sides of the aisle to act on this important civil rights issue by passing this legislation to protect all of our citizens from violent acts of intolerance – legislation that will enhance civil rights protections, while also protecting our freedom of speech and association." In 2007, the House had approved a similar bill, and the US Senate also passed similar legislation in the form of an amendment to the 2008 Senate Defense Reauthorization Bill. However, the broadened language was ultimately removed during House and Senate negotiations.VOTE FOR JURIST JURIST is nominated for a 2009 Webby Award as best Law website. Please vote for us here!

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on April 30, 2009 (boomark / email).