Tag Archives: Matthew Shepard Act

White House Issues Track Record On LGBT Rights: DOMA, DADT, Hate Crimes Law, HIV/AIDS, And More

The White House today issued a lengthy recounting of the many, many advances in LGBT rights seen during the Obama administration. The “fact sheet” – which I’ve posted in its entirety below – serves both as a very well-earned bragging point and as a stark reminder of how tenuous many of these advances remain with the specter of a Republican …

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AG Eric Holder Lauds LGBT Triumphs In Goodbye Speech To Justice Department

Attorney General Eric Holder has left the building. But not before a press conference in which he righteously spiked the ball about the LGBT triumphs seen during his tenure. Moments ago the Department Of Justice joined in on Twitter by posting the above photo. Earlier today the DOJ posted the below recap of Holder’s life and six years with the …

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President Obama Marks Fifth Anniversary Of Signing The Matthew Shepard Act

Via White House press release: Five years ago, I was proud to sign the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act into law – a law that strengthened the protections against crimes based on the color of our skin, the love in our hearts, the faith we practice, or the place of our birth. This law gave …

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Sullivan Backs Matthew Shepard Truthers

“The question here is whether the crime was solely a function of the homophobic hatred of two strangers who beat up and brutally murdered someone merely because he was gay. That’s the official line of the Matthew Shepard Foundation and the Human Rights Campaign. Of course these motives could also have been involved. I’m arguing that meth can explain all …

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HRC Praises Obama’s LGBT Record

DADT, hate crimes, marriage, and much more.

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COMPILATION: Gay News In The 2000s

JMG reader Dave Evans has compiled 40 minutes of gay-related news clips that aired in the 2000s. Among the topics: Lawrence V Texas, the Hate Crimes Act, Massachusetts marriage, Proposition 8, DADT, and DOMA. PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: Compilations of gay news in the 1970s, gay news in the 1980s, gay news in the 1990s, and the first ten years of …

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Guilty Plea In Federal Hate Crime Case

For the second time since the adoption of the Matthew Shepard Act, the federal government has won a conviction for an anti-gay hate crime. Via White House press release: Everett Dwayne Avery, 36, of Detroit, Mich., pleaded guilty in federal court today to a federal hate crime, admitting that he assaulted a victim because he believed the victim was gay, …

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A Major Whoopsie For Oklahoma’s Haters

Remember when Oklahoma lawmakers passed a bill declaring the state exempt from the Matthew Shepard Act? It turns out the asshats cited the wrong federal bill number in their legislation and Oklahoma is actually now exempt from federal laws about reporting racial and religious discrimination. In trying to strip gays and lesbians of their rights, the Oklahoma State Senate inadvertently …

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Today: “Rally For Religious Freedom”

Pretty much every Christianist loon you’ve ever heard of will be outside the Department of Justice in Washington DC at 1:30pm today to protest the recently passed hate crimes act. Wild-eyed luminaries such as Matt Barber, Peter LaBarbera, Gary Cass, Bishop Harry Jackson and their coterie of crazies will be attempting to incite their own arrest by “preaching the Biblical …

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Pat Robertson Lies About Hate Crimes Act

Pat Robertson flat out lies to his audience on The 700 Club. Again. Via Crooks & Liars: His basis for opposing the law, however, is completely detached from reality. For instance, Robertson argues: Robertson: You know, there’s a law – what about a law that says it’s a federal crime to attack somebody because of his religious beliefs? Not a …

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Obama Signs Hate Crimes Act

A significant and historic step in our journey was achieved today when President Obama signed the hate crimes act. The wingnuts are screaming their heads off, but the day is ours. At last.

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Tomorrow: President Obama To Sign Hate Crimes Bill

On Wednesday, President Obama will sign the hate crimes bill into law in a White House ceremony as Matthew Shepard’s family looks on. I should have a link to the live stream of the event available here early in the day.

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Matthew Shepard Act PASSES, On Way To President’s Desk

After years and years and years of work, tonight the Matthew Shepard Act passed its final congressional hurdle and at long last is on its way to President Obama’s desk for final approval. The Matthew Shepard Foundation rejoices: Today, the United States Senate took an historic step toward ensuring justice for the victims of hate crimes targeted for violence due …

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Senate: Hate Crimes Act Achieves Cloture

Breaking news from HRC Backstory: The U.S. Senate today achieved cloture (the procedural step to limit debate and proceed toward a vote) on the Department of Defense Authorization Conference Report of which the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is a part by a vote of 64 to 35. The Senate will now proceed with debate …

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PhoboQuotable – Tim Wildmon

“In its never-ending quest to shred America’s Judeo-Christian value system, the left is planning to hurriedly push through a ‘thought crimes’ bill. So-called ‘hate crimes’ laws are really laws that criminalize thought, because they punish an individual not for what he did but for what he thought. Politically incorrect thoughts about homosexual behavior will result in enhanced criminal sanctions under …

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Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX): Hate Crimes Bill Will Legalize Bestiality, Corpse-Fucking, Pedophilia, Lead To Nazism

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Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX): Hate Crimes Act Is Holding Soldiers Hostage

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) vehemently opposes the Matthew Shepard Act and says attaching it to a defense appropriations act is “holding soldiers hostage.” He then go on to spout the usual lies that preachers will be dragged from the pulpits and charged with hate crimes for preaching against homosexuality.

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PFOX: Hate Crimes Laws Are “Anti-Ex-Gay”

Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays are opposing the Matthew Shepard Act, a honking contradiction since they wildly celebrated their recent inclusion in Washington DC’s list of sexual orientation protections. But no one ever accused the “ex-gays” of making sense. Washington City Paper’s Amanda Hess: Let’s try to pick that one apart, shall we? According to PFOX, hate crime laws protecting …

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Senate Approves Final Hate Crimes Bill

Last night the Senate approved their final version of defense appropriations bill to which the Matthew Shepard Act is attached. During the August recess, staffers from the House and Senate will meet in a conference committee to hammer out the differences between their two versions. In September we should see a vote by both chambers on the compromise bill. Fingers …

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McCain Mad About Hate Crimes Act

And he finds a sympathetic audience in the Fox hosts. Of course.

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