Philadelphia Freedom Blog (Free subscription) | 12 hours ago
... the alternative would have been much, much worse. I am thankful that Congress recently passed the Matthew Shepard Act . It's one step forward for respect and human dignity, although we still have a long way to go to achieve full rights for our LGBT sisters and brothers. I am cautiously thankful that the same Congress and has gotten farther than ever in promoting the possibility of...
Pam's House Blend (Free subscription) | 11/24/2009
... like you have decided to stand up for your LGBT constituents. With your sponsorship of the Matthew Shepard Act, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Military Readiness Act, the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, the Respect of Marriage Act, the Uniting American Families Act, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, the Reuniting Families Act, the Every Child Deserves...
ChattahBox (Free subscription) | 11/24/2009
(ChattahBox)—The Federal Bureau of Investigation released the hate crime statistics for 2008, and the new data shows a marked increase in anti-gay hate crimes. In light of the recent passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expanded the categories of hate crimes to include sexual orientation, the FBI [...]
The Freethinker (Free subscription) | 11/23/2009
EARLIER this month we reported on how Chuck Fazio turned the tables on a crazy bunch of evangelists who converged on Washington to protest against the Matthew Shepard Act. The new Act seeks to protects people against hate crimes committed because of their perceived sexuality, but is regarded as an attack on free speech by Christian [...]
JURIST - Paper Chase (Free subscription) | 11/23/2009
... to include crimes motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, passed the US Senate and House of Representatives as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (NDAA). Conservative members of Congress in both instances charged that the hate crimes provision was an...
Okie Funk: Notes From The Outback - (Free subscription) | 11/22/2009
State Sen. Steve Russell’s plan to try to exempt Oklahoma from federal hate crimes guidelines drew heavy criticism last week from state Rep. Al McAffrey, the state’s first openly gay legislator. Russell, a Del City Republican, has announced he will introduce legislation next session that will exempt the state from the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention...
Ex-Gay Watch (Free subscription) | 11/21/2009
-Same-sex marriage is legalized via court order in Buenos Aires, Argentina. -Dolly Parton speaks out in defense of gay rights. -Meghan McCain (daughter of Sen. John McCain) challenges the Republican Party’s hypocrisy on the issue of same-sex marriage. -The Christian Anti-Defamation League’s rally against the Matthew Shepard hate crimes law fizzles. -NARTH’s annual conference...
bilerico.com (Free subscription) | 11/21/2009
... and equality must remain vocal, active, and unrelenting in calling for justice." -- Judy Shepard , mother of Matthew Shepard, on the murder of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado
Alex Constantine's Blacklist (Free subscription) | 11/20/2009
... the term "tar baby" on the House floor and had suggested that the murder of gay student Matthew Shepard was not a hate crime. http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/washington-whispers/2009/11/19/gops-foxx-republicans-passed-civil-rights-act.html
Later On (Free subscription) | 11/19/2009
From the Center for American Progress in an email: Oklahoma state Sen. Steve Russell (R) is proposing legislation that invokes the 10th Amendment of the Constitution to exempt his state from the recently passed Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), claiming it infringes on freedom of speech. Hate crimes laws have been on the books [...]
Londonist (Free subscription) | 11/20/2009
... irrevocably connected with the brutal torture and murder by two rednecks of flyweight gay student Matthew Shepard, beaten and left for dead tied to a fence outside the Wyoming town on the night of 6 October 2008. His death led directly to the hate crimes legislation finally enacted by the Obama administration last month. When planning a London run, Wild Oats Productions couldn’t...
GLBTQ (Free subscription) | 11/19/2009
... slaughter,” stated Malcolm Lazin , Executive Director of Equality Forum. “Since Matthew Shepard’s murder in 1998, there have been over 16,000 gay hate crimes, and on average, about 1,450 GLBT hate crimes per year.” Police have identified a suspect in the murder of Jorge Lopez Mercado. According to Puerto Rican activists, gay hate crimes in Puerto Rico are not...
