Tag Archives: hate crimes

“30% off jail time for assaulting Grandma or other non-homosexuals.” So says the above “coupon for criminals” posted on rabid hater Janet Porter’s new site, Faith 2 Action. When combined with existing law, this bill could have a very chilling effect on free speech. A pastor could be charged with inciting a hate crime for the content of his sermon. …

Rachel Maddow provides a history lesson on the murder of Matthew Shepard, then interviews his mother Judy about the comments of Rep. Virginia Foxx. Since the murder of her son, Shepard has become a well-known national spokesperson against violence perpetrated on LGBT people.

Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) rips the GOP position that the hate crimes bill criminalizes thought. “That’s like saying that anti-lynching laws criminalized knot-tying!” Some real zingers there. But DO watch Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) tear into the Repubs who numerous times evoked the “Philadelphia 11”, a group of anti-gay protesters who were arrested in 2004 for preaching at a gay …

A whopping 34 U.S. Senators have already signed on as co-sponsors of Ted Kennedy’s hate crimes bill. This bodes very well. Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI], Sen Bayh, Evan [IN], Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM], Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA], Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH], Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA], Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD], Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA], Sen Collins, Susan …

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) says she has gotten death threats since yesterday’s House hate crimes debate during which she called the murder of Matthew Shepard a hoax. Foxx is now backing off her statement. A spokesperson for the congresswoman said Foxx’s office has received hate mail over the past 24 hours, including death threats. Foxx later said her comments didn’t …

After hours of contentious debate during which GOP members of the House parroted numerous lies funneled to them by the American Family Association, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HR 1913) passed by a vote of 249-175. Democrats opposing: 17. Republicans in favor: 18. Yesterday Sen. Ted Kennedy introduced a Senate version of the bill. President Obama has …

The debate has just ended and the vote is about to commence, but check out Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) calling the murder of Matthew Shepard “a hoax.” Rep. Foxx: “The bill was named after a very unfortunate incident that happened, where a young man was killed, but we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of robbery. …

Many of you greatly enjoyed Rob Tisinai’s recent video deconstructing the lies of the Christianist right regarding same-sex marriage. Today Rob rips apart the lies of the Traditional Values Coalition in their campaign against hate crimes laws. Fantastic work.

At the moment, wingnut Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) is railing against “protected sexual orientations” such as pedophilia. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) is literally waving his Bible and quoting scripture. It’s a zoo. Watch live here.

Last night President Obama urged Congress to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. “This week, the House of Representatives is expected to consider H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. I urge members on both sides of the aisle to act on this important civil rights issue by passing this legislation to …

The Human Rights Campaign is asking the LGBT community to call their representatives in Congress over the next three days and demand their support of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. After more than a decade of lobbying on Capitol Hill and seven successful votes on the bill, this critical piece of legislation is again expected to see …

Despite attempts by Republican legislators to add unborn children, pregnant women, and members of the military to the protected classes, today the House Judiciary Committee narrowly approved the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act* by a vote of 15-12. GOP reps also attempted but failed to strip gender identity protections from the act. The bill will go the full …

Allen Andrade was today found guilty of the July 2008 murder of transwoman Angie Zapata, whom Andrade beat to death with a fire extinguisher after learning Zapata’s birth gender. When arrested, he told police he had killed “it”. After two hours of deliberation, a Weld District Court jury found Allen Andrade guilty of the first-degree murder of Angie Zapata, guilty …

“If H.R. 1913 becomes law, actual violence or injury need not take place for a “hate crime” to occur. For example, if a group of Christians are at a ‘gay pride’ parade and a one of them gently places his hand on a homosexual’s shoulder and shares that there is freedom from homosexuality through a relationship with Jesus Christ, then, …

Just when you think the bizarre lies of the Christianist right cannot possibly get any more outrageous, they go and outdo themselves…….. Lou Sheldon’s Traditional Values Coalition is claiming that the hate crimes act currently before Congress will legalize numerous types of sexual crimes because the American Psychiatric Association lists certain sexual fetishes under a long list of “sexual orientations” …

Iraq’s interior ministry reports that six gay men have been killed in the last ten days by members of their own tribes in the Baghdad suburb of Sadr City after being disowned by family members as “perverts.” A local cafe popular with gays was also set on fire. The AFP reports on the latest of the killings: The bullet-riddled bodies …

Check out the latest “action alert” from the Family Research Council. Many members of Congress are simply unaware of how dangerous the proposed “hate crimes” law is. FRC Action will warn them that this could lead to simple expressions of religious faith-including sermons and radio broadcasts-being prosecuted as “hate.” Our nation is at a danger point. In 2007, such a …

Anger management classes, three years of probation, and 100 hours community service for beating a gay man with a Yes On 8 yard sign. Fair? A 23-year-old father who used a campaign sign opposing same-sex marriage to attack a gay man on a Torrance street was ordered Monday to take lessons on managing anger and intolerance. As part of a …