(Indianapolis) Legislation to provide stiffer sentences in hate crime cases has been shelved after a Republican lawmaker moved to amend the bill in what is being described as a ploy to emasculate it. Indiana is one of only five states with no hate crimes law.

The bill by submitted by Rep. Gregory W. Porter ( D) would have allowed lawsuits to be filed against criminals if the victim had been singled out because of "color, creed, disability, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or sex."

The legislation passed the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee last month on a 9-1 vote and was headed to the full House for a vote. Then Rep. Jackie Walorski (R) inserted an amendment that would have made the legislation apply to a fetus.

Democrats who control the House decided to shelve the hate crimes legislation to avoid a divisive debate on abortion.