Tulsa World: Federal hate crimes measure includes gays

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Federal hate crimes measure includes gays
The bill, headed to the president, expands current law to include crimes based on gender and sexual orientation.

OKLAHOMANS FOR EQUALITY
Toby Jenkins: The Tulsa-based organization's president says his group "is absolutely rejoicing. It's the closest we've come to this in Oklahoma." Oklahoma is one of five states without hate crime statutes that include sexual orientation. Both Oklahoma senators, Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn, opposed the measure.

By Staff and Wire Reports
Published: 10/23/2009 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 10/23/2009 4:49 AM

WASHINGTON — Physical attacks prompted by the victim's sexual orientation will join the list of federal hate crimes in a major expansion of the civil rights-era law Congress approved Thursday and sent to President Barack Obama.

"Oklahomans for Equality is absolutely rejoicing," said the Tulsa-based organization's president, Toby Jenkins. "It's the closest we've come to this in Oklahoma."

Oklahoma is one of five states without hate crime statutes that include sexual orientation.

Both Oklahoma senators, Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn, joined 26 other Republicans and one Democrat in opposing the measure, which was attached to a must-pass $680 billion defense policy bill.

Just one day earlier, Coburn had appealed to gays and lesbians through the national publication The Advocate to oppose Democratic health care reforms.

A priority of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., the measure passed Thursday expands current law to include crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The measure is named for Matthew Shepard, the gay Wyoming college student murdered 11 years ago.

The House passed the defense bill earlier this month.

Many Republicans, normally staunch supporters of defense bills, voted against the bill because of the hate crimes provision.

All the no votes were Republicans except for Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., who supported the hate crimes provision but opposes what he says is the open-ended military commitment in Afghanistan.

"The inclusion of the controversial language of the hate crimes legislation, which is unrelated to our national defense, is deeply troubling," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.

Jenkins said the law "moves toward a more civilized society. It makes us feel safer and more secure and says that differences are never a reason to resort to violence."

Jenkins said the Tulsa Police Department has been "vigilant against crime based on bias," but that the new law would give state law enforcement authorities additional incentive to provide equal protection to gays and lesbians.

Hate crimes law enacted after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 centered on crimes based on race, color, religion or national origin.

The expansion has long been sought by civil rights and gay rights groups. Conservatives have opposed it, arguing that it creates a special class of victims.

They also have been concerned that it could silence clergymen or others opposed to homosexuality on religious or philosophical grounds.

Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights group, hailed the bill as "our nation's first major piece of civil rights legislation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Too many in our community have been devastated by hate violence."

The FBI says more than half of reported hate crimes are motivated by racial bias. Next most frequent are crimes based on religious bias, at around 18 percent, and sexual orientation, at 16 percent. By Staff and Wire Reports

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Congress sends hate-crimes expansion bill to president," which was published on 10/22/2009.

	Report Comment Rimshot, (10/22/2009 9:13:57 PM) There's more violence based on someone's religion but the drag queens get special protection.
	Report Comment Rimshot, (10/22/2009 9:16:55 PM) They should have named it after Jesse Dirkhising.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (10/22/2009 9:42:59 PM) I still don't understand why our government is trying to make sure they are protecting gay civilians, but still deny the same protection to our men and women serving in the military. Get rid of don't ask don't tell.
	Report Comment SteveBrown777, tulsa (10/22/2009 9:47:31 PM) Rimshot you honestly believe there are more gay people attacking straight people for being straight, or even an equal amount? The Jesse Dirkhising case was a horrific sexual crime against a minor, not a crime committed by homosexuals because the kid was straight. You can't simply group any sexual molestation or sexual offense with attacks that are carried out on someone due solely to their sexual orientation. This bill is designed to expand protection and go after those who are targeting others based on their sexual orientation.
	Report Comment SteveBrown777, tulsa (10/22/2009 10:10:14 PM) Oh, and by the way Rimshot, religion is already protected under current federal hate crimes laws.
	Report Comment WhoseLeft, Tulsa (10/22/2009 11:27:58 PM) ::::Both Oklahoma senators, Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn, joined 26 other Republicans and one Democrat in opposing the measure, which was attached to a must-pass $680 billion defense policy bill. Just one day earlier, Coburn had appealed to gays and lesbians through the national publication The Advocate to oppose Democratic health-care reforms.:::::::: Way to go, Sen. Tom. Play both sides now.
	Report Comment Skeptic, Tulsa (10/23/2009 8:50:25 AM) Look at Rimshot's avatar SteveBrown777 and you'll get an idea of the mentality of the person you're dealing with. Even though the numbers that refute his claim were in the article, he made that sad post. Some just choose to live in the dark.
	Report Comment Tim Denver, Denver (10/23/2009 9:45:32 AM) A step in the right direction.
	Report Comment GARFIELD, TULSA (10/23/2009 10:38:42 AM) Preachers and mean-spirited will still be allowed to practice their foul-mouthed rants on Gays and others, and local police can still stall around with their tactics, so it is only a partial victory. But the fear of a lawsuit will terrify many! Yes, Thunder 196, DADT must be eliminated.
	Report Comment Mr. Brown, Could be anywhere (10/23/2009 1:55:57 PM) Anyone that'll hunt gays to physically beat should be eligible for as much time as they can possibly get. You can keep don't ask, don't tell exactly how it is, though.
	Report Comment forkandknife, Tulsa (10/23/2009 3:27:28 PM) (rimshot) Are you completely insane? There are hate crimes out there every single day. I mean, look at that ridiculous church in Kansas, (westboro babtist) and how they still push for that awful and completely unethical statue of Matthew Shepard to be placed in Wyoming. Does not bother them that those two men murdered him. In cold blood. It just bothers him because he was gay. You need to come and join us in 2009 man. Cause, 1 in every 5 men you see these days is gay. Or a closet case that is still following the old ways that are somewhere written in stone. Men marry woman. Have children. Children bury parents. The end. Grow up!
	Report Comment forkandknife, Tulsa (10/23/2009 3:30:30 PM) And one more thing. Jesse Dirkhising. I do beleive he suffered enough before he passed on. Leave him at peace. I mean, like my mother told me, as I am sure that she told you. And everyone else in the world that has a mother told them. "If you don't have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all!"
	Report Comment D.Boone, (10/23/2009 10:30:02 PM) So,What you going to do when you see a 45 mixed up (appears to be male) year old genderbender hitting on a young boy? And don't tell me it doesn't happen because I've seen it. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of Men,"THE SHADOW" knows.
	Report Comment aint missbehavin, no thanks (10/23/2009 11:10:05 PM) 1 OUT OF 5 MEN HA?....DONT CHOOSE THE PRETTY ONES GIRLS,HE'S takin....could this be considered a hate crime?
	Report Comment remarkable, (10/24/2009 1:48:59 AM) Christians have the right of free speech and freedomo of expression- just like everyone else. When it leads to violence( no proof of it coming from religious sectors as of yet) then it is not hate a crime. A hate crime is something like KKK against a color or a race.. not a gender..
	Report Comment Sugarman, (10/25/2009 9:08:54 AM) D.BOONE-- sadly, sexual and violent crimes against children are terrible and on-going. But most of those crimes are committed by heterosexuals. Heterosexual males are also the group that do most of the damage to women. If you're passionate about helping children-- and women-- at risk, that's wonderful. There are many organizations that will very much want your help. And by the way, all those groups need dollars. Contribute!

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