A bill to add federal penalties for crimes involving sexual orientation or gender identity was introduced in the Senate on Thursday. If passed, the measure would give sexual preference special protections comparable to that given race and religious belief.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., has bipartisan support. Patrick Sammon, president of the pro-gay Log Cabin Republicans, said the additional legal cover is needed.
“This isn’t just symbolism," he said. "This bill provides important protections and resources that will benefit and help law enforcement agencies across the country.”
But Matt Barber, policy director for cultural issues at Concerned Women for America, pointed out there are already laws to protect everyone from violent crime.
“There’s absolutely no evidence to suggest that homosexuals or transgender people are not receiving equal protection or equal justice under the law,” he said. “The weight of the evidence establishes that their true motive is to silence any criticism of their homosexual lifestyle.”
Tom McClusky, vice president for government affairs at the Family Research Council, called the bill a well-intentioned but bad idea.
“What we’ll probably see is this bill passing both the House and the Senate as it has in the past," he said. "It will be up to President Bush to draw that final line in the sand.”
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