James Dobson and "Concerned Women for America" Rail against legislation making it a federal crime to attack people based upon gender identity
BBSNews 2007-05-02 -- The homophobes are out in force this week trying to undermine much needed legislation to protect people from violent crimes done to them largely because of the perceived gender identity of the victim. Two identical bipartisan pieces of legislation are making their way through both houses of the US Congress, in the Senate it is the "Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act" and in the House it is H.R. 1592 that would add sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability to federal law that already exists for protection in the case of race, color, religion or national origin.
Anti-gay groups are misleading their followers in trying to convince them that this long overdue addition to existing federal law has something to do with "thought crime." Actually, the term "misleading" is being charitable. They are actually lying to stir up anti-gay hysteria and urging their constituencies to call and email legislators trying to scare them into voting against this well-founded legal protection for people that some Americans just love to hate. Former down the street congregation neighbor of Ted Haggard, James Dobson is not to be left out of course, he weighed in with this tidbit:
"'There's a vote coming up on some insidious legislation in the United States Congress that could silence and punish Christians for their moral beliefs,' he said on his radio broadcast [yesterday]. 'That means that as a Christian – if you read the Bible a certain way with regard to morality – you may be guilty of committing a 'thought crime.'"
Which is nonsense as this legislation does nothing to stop free speech, bigots would still be able to spew their vile hatred, they would just be federally liable if they acted violently.
For instance, the group "Concerned Women for America" who would like nothing better than to mold all Americans into their extremist image had this to say when begging lame duck president Bush to veto this necessary change to federal law:
"Perhaps most frightening is the fact that liberal legislators have refused any amendment which would substantively protect religious expression in association with this legislation. Similar laws have been used around the world — and right here at home — to silence opposition to the homosexual lifestyle. That refusal speaks volumes about the true agenda behind this legislation, which is to grant official government recognition to both homosexual and cross-dressing behaviors, and to silence opposition to those behaviors'"
No, the CWA is also not telling the truth to their True Believers(tm), they can still be against anything they want, they just cannot beat up or kill people because they are gay, transgender, disabled etc -- CWA and its members will still be able to rail against equal rights for people they don't like.
And right-wing media can still smear people they don't like. For instance the "Post Chronicle" [popup warning] published a piece about Matthew Shepard labeling him a "meth addict" even though that is simply bunk:
"From there we move on to the condescending protection of 'minorities' in the form of superfluous hate crimes legislation. The latest attempt has been named the Matthew Shepard Act, in honor of a Wyoming meth addict killed in a drug deal gone bad. The fact that he happened to be gay apparently entitled him to more protection than your average straight meth addict."
Uhhh, no. Former Laramie police chief Cmdr. Dave O'Malley didn't "buy that at all" and he was there. In fact, Aaron McKinney one of the convicted killers apparently was bisexual. Surprise! The Chronicle should look deeper into their stories. They went on:
"...what are the ramifications for a preacher who dares to tell his congregation what the Bible says about homosexuality? Suppose the next day a homosexual is beaten up in that community? Is that preacher's sermon now 'hate speech?'"
It might be, it's hard to say because it is a hypothetical scenario. Nevertheless, the "preacher" will be protected by the First Amendment, but the attacker(s) however will be liable for a federal crime under the new legislation as they should be.
There is no shortage of people who simply hate gay people, transgender people, cross-dressers etc -- they can still hate as freely as before this much needed legislation. But if they decide to act on their hatred and beat up or kill someone just because they don't like their gender identity or a disability, they will be held liable for a federal crime and federal resources can be brought to bear if the local law enforcement folks such as the backwards sheriff Charles B. Laux in Richardson County Nebraska near Falls City, ignores a hate crime when it's reported.
The story of Brandon Teena [Teena Renae Brandon] was made into a movie called "Boys Don't Cry" (1999) in which Hilary Swank won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Brandon Teena and Chloe Sevigny garnered a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
When local authorities in backasswards places label people as "it" instead of Constitutionally protected people, and who do not take hate crimes against folks who are "different" seriously, under this new addition to already existing federal legislation that already and for decades has protected against people attacking others for their religious beliefs in the United States, people like Brandon would also be able to expect help from the feds if local authorities would not or could not help.
Joe Solmonese, the president of the Human Rights Campaign said earlier in April of this year about this legislation:
"'For over a decade, a broad coalition of civil rights, law enforcement, religious and community organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, has been calling for justice. We have been asking our elected leaders to understand that bias-motivated violence is a persistent and pernicious problem in our country,' said Solmonese. 'The statistics speak for themselves. Approximately 25 hate crimes are reported each day in our country. And more simply go unreported. One in six of these crimes is motivated by the victims sexual orientation. And many others are motivated by the victim’s gender identity, gender or disability.'"
Matthew Shepard's mother also makes a heartfelt plea to Americans in general and those politicians specifically that may be wavering during the onslaught from the haters, those bigots that want to let people who would commit violent crimes against those who are perceived somehow as "different" in gender identity:
"'This is one of the most important pieces of federal legislation to help erase hate in our society today. I urge every American to contact your leaders, including the president, and encourage them to support this bill,' said Judy Shepard. 'Whether it be for Matthew or for the thousands of other victims of hate crimes, I am personally asking for your help to ensure this important piece of legislation passes.'"
Dare those politicians who will likely be voting for or against this legislation to rent the movie "Boys Don't Cry" today, screen it tonight, and then vote against the "Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act" tomorrow.
Those that vote against it will be prime targets for a vote out of office by the people who care about all people and believe in the Golden Rule during the next election regardless if they, both voter and politician, are independent, Republican or Democrat.
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