Worldly Chatter

On Thursday Senators Kennedy and Smith introduced Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act or now known as the Matthew Shepard Act. This act would strengthen the ability in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes against sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. It would give federal authorities the go ahead to help local law enforcement in such cases if they ask for it. It was introduced last month in the U.S House of representatives by Rep. John Conyers Jr. and Mark Kirk, R-Ill. For over a decade such acts have been introduced and dropped and introduced and dropped again. In some cases it has passed both Senate and House but never together. Why is that? Why not pass a bill that would protect all Americans?
The Matthew Shepard Act was named after the 21 year old who was beaten to death in a remote area of Laramie, Wyoming in October of 1998 because he was gay. He was robbed, severely beaten, pistol whipped, crushing his skull, and then left hanging like a scarecrow on a fence for 18 hours before Matthew Shepard was found by cyclists. He died a five days later never regaining consciousness. The two men charged and convicted attempted to use a ‘gay panic’ defense but was unsuccessful. Because there was no hate crime laws in Wyoming the boys could not be charged with a hate crime and people tried to get new legislation enacted in Wyoming as well as on a federal level. It is because of this crime and many others that go on all across America that law makers want this pushed through. There is just one problem, with America a fighting ground for gay rights some aren’t sure that the act will go through.
Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Oregon, co-sponsor of the bill, feels that by putting Shepard’s name to the bill will be more successful and when asked about potential opposition from religious groups that disagree with homosexuality he said that should not be a problem. “This act is about the prosecution of crime, not prohibition of speech unless they believe part of their religion is the practice of violence against others, they should not be affected by this bill.”
If there shouldn’t be a problem then why has it taken so long to get passed? A decade of trial and error, pass and fail is showing that there have been a few people in office who didn’t want this bill, or any version of it, to pass. Is protecting American subject to whether someone likes or dislikes something about them? It’s what it sounds like to a lot of activists, if it wasn’t an issue it would have made it to the president’s desk by now. They have a point with this one.
Judy Shepard was honored and touched that her sons name would be used as the name for the bill. Since her son’s death she founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation: Embracing Diversity. She was present when the bill was introduced and is active in the gay and lesbian community and fighting for the equal rights for all; making something good out of something so evil.
If we all want equal protection under the law why has this bill taken so long? It isn’t even passed yet, simply introduced again. Will things be different this time around with a new congress in session? Will it get vetoed by President Bush who doesn’t hide his feelings about the gay community? Just as times before now all there is to do is wait.

Matthew Shepard, The Matthew Shepard Act, Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, Laramie Wyoming, hate crimes, hate crimes laws