Despite intense opposition from family advocates, the U.S. House voted earlier this year to create a new class of crimes based on characteristics of the victim, including sexual orientation and "gender identity."
The Senate later added its own version of the dangerous legislation to an unrelated bill — FY10 Defense Authorization. The conference committee begins meeting this week to work out the details.
Matt Barber, director of Cultural Affairs at Liberty Counsel, said liberals in Congress are bent on pushing through an agenda that is not popular with Americans.
"This bill is entirely unnecessary," he said. "The intent is to codify special protections and special minority status and official government recognition for sexual behaviors and to penalize anybody who speaks out against those behaviors."
Under so-called hate-crimes laws, pastors who preach a biblical sermon on homosexuality could face prosecution if they are found to have "induced" a hate crime against a self-identified homosexual or "transgendered" individual.
Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, said Republicans are left in a tough position, because the bill is attached to Defense Authorization.
"It puts conservative members on the horns of a dilemma," he said, "worrying about advertisements against them" claiming they don't support the military.
