NOW Applauds Passage of Landmark Hate Crimes Legislation


In a campaign promise fulfilled, President Obama signed the first significant pro-lesbian, pro-woman, pro-disability rights legislation today. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act expands the 1969 federal hate crimes law to include sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability.

“This is a true victory, especially for women,” said NOW President Terry O’Neill. “NOW’s activists have worked tirelessly for years to have gender-based and sexual orientation-based hate crimes included in federal law — hate crimes that warrant federal prosecution and federal punishment,” said O’Neill.

Federal authorities will now have the power to pursue hate crimes when individuals are targeted for sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability — authority the federal government never had before.





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