May 03, 2007News: Bush Pressured To Veto Gay Hate Crimes Bill
By vanrozenheim
(Washington, USA) - The US Congress is going to pass a legislation called "Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act". The Bill, also known as the "Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act" would enable the Department of Justice to help local authorities in investigating and prosecuting hate-motivated crimes. FBI statistics show that one in six hate crimes is motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation. Religious Fundamentalists, among them the "American Family Association" have launched a campaign to pressure President Bush to veto the legislation, if passed.
In its statement, AFA claims that "the Hate Crimes Act criminalizes a vast array of state and local acts and threatens religious leaders with criminal prosecution for their thoughts, beliefs, and statements."
Alike, the "Concerned Women for America" spokesperson Matt Barber claimed: "Perhaps most frightening is the fact that liberal legislators have refused any amendment which would substantively protect religious expression in association with this legislation."
"Similar laws have been used around the world - and right here at home — to silence opposition to the homosexual lifestyle. That refusal speaks volumes about the true agenda behind this legislation, which is to grant official government recognition to both homosexual and cross-dressing behaviors, and to silence opposition to those behaviors," Barber continued in his statement.
These statements reveal the true desires of AFA and CWA: the right to express their religious beliefs by means of verbal and physical violence, and claim protection of the law to those who incite for murder on pretention of "religious freedom".
Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student, was was found beaten and strung up on a fence along a country road after being lured by two men from a bar. Matthew died in hospital on October 12, 1998. Informations about him can be found on www.matthewsplace.com
