Hate Crimes

There is now a law making it illegal to commit a crime against someone based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability. These crimes are called hate crimes. One of the most well-known hate crimes is the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., which enacted a hate crimes law centered on crimes based on race, color, religion, or national origin. The measure that passed in Congress was based on the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming college student 11 years ago.

T0 make sure this bill is passed, Democratic supports attached the measure to a must-pass $680 billion defense policy bill, which was approved by the Senate and House earlier this month. Many Republicans voted against the defense bill because of the hate crimes provision. Conservatives also oppose the measure because they believe it created a special class of victims and that it could silence clergymen or others opposed to homosexuality on religious or philosophical grounds.

I feel like this law is appropriate and good. So many gay people get hated on- physically and mentally- so I feel like a measure to prevent hate crimes against them is necessary. It does create a separate group of victims, but creating a measure to prevent hate crimes against black people is creating a separate group of victims too.