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Hate Crimes Bill Blocked by
U.S. Senate's Republicans

HRC and AP Contradict Log Cabin Republicans' Spin

National Stonewall Democrats Hail Democrats' Support

Compiled by GayToday

Washington, D.C.-According to both the Human Rights Campaign and the Associated Press, U.S. Senate Republicans were to blame yesterday for blocking hate crimes legislation inclusive of sexual orientation.

The bill simply adds sexual orientation to a 1968 federal hate-crimes law that already prohibits attacks based on race, religion or national origin and gives a right to federal prosecutors to pursue hate-crimes cases if local authorities refuse to press charges against biased perpetrator/s.

That dog don't hunt: Senate Republicans like Minority Leader Trent Lott are to blame for blocking the hate crimes legislation including sexual orientation, despite what the Log Cabin Republicans said

According to the Human Rights campaign:

"Senate Republican leaders strong-armed Republican supporters of the federal hate crimes bill, known as the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, S. 625, to vote against a 'cloture motion' on the bill.

"The only way to have stopped a filibuster and allow the Senate to debate and vote on the hate crimes bill would have been for 60 Senators to vote 'yes' on the cloture motion.

"A cloture motion is designed to limit debate and allow a vote on a bill to prevent opponents from offering unrelated amendments.

"But on a vote of 54 to 43 the cloture motion was defeated (yesterday) - with 49 Democrats, 1 Independent and 4 Republicans voting in favor of the measure.

" 'We know that more than 60 Senators support hate crimes legislation, yet only 54 Senators voted for cloture,' said HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch.

" 'While the Republican leadership talks about wanting to move the business of the nation forward, when it comes to hate crimes legislation, they went out of their way to grind the nation's business to a halt.'"

However, a public statement by the Log Cabin Republicans was in direct conflict with both the Human Rights Campaign and the Associated Press reports.

According to the gay Republicans' national organization, the blocking of the bill was the fault of the Democrats. They are claiming: "the Democratic leadership forced a procedural vote to cut off all debate -- a strategy which drove two original co-sponsors of the bill to vote against them."

Rich Tafel, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans insists:

"The Democrats used a high-risk strategy to speed the bill's passage, and it not only failed but insulted supporters and prevented a breakthrough deal."

The Associated Press, however, agreed with HRC, placing blame on the GOP Senators and saying:

"Senate Republicans (yesterday) blocked action on a hate crimes measure, refusing to cut off debate on a bill that would make a federal crime of violent attacks prompted by victims' sexual orientation or disabilities�Democrats, pushing the measure in an election year, said they would try again."

The National Stonewall Democrats (NSD) hailed Senate Democrats for their attempt to save federal hate crimes legislation from being diluted or killed.

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
Republican Leaders Declare War on America

Senate Majority Leader Daschle Addresses Human Rights Campaign

Big Brother Bush is Watching You

GayToday's Hate Crime Series

Related Sites:
Stonewall Democrats

Log Cabin Republicans

Human Rights Campaign

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"Senate Democrats have demonstrated their full commitment to hate crime legislation that includes protections for gay and lesbian Americans," said Chad Johnson, NSD Executive Director.