It is now a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender.
On Wednesday, President Obama signed into existence a newly expanded federal hate crimes law, hailed by supporters as the first major federal gay rights legislation. The new law was named for Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming teenager who was kidnapped and severely beaten to death in October 1998, and for James Byrd Jr., an African-American man dragged to death behind a pick-up truck in Texas the same year.
Amid reports of 12,000 crimes based on sexual orientation over the past 10 years, Mr. Obama called the bill another step in the continuing struggle for protecting human rights, and a major step toward change to “help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray, who they are.” In front of a packed White House ceremony which included the Shepard and Byrd families, the President said “Because of the efforts of the folks in this room, particularly those family members standing behind me, the bell rings even louder now.” When he finished his remarks, he hugged the weeping relatives as the audience applauded. “Today I’m pleased to say that we have proved that change is possible.”
This made me cry. I am happy and speechless all at the same time!THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU PRESIDENT OBAMA!!