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 to Have Hate Crime Laws Hawaii is Poised to Make 'Aloha' State 26th in the Nation Tim Mc Feeley: 'Progress--Year by Year, State by State' |
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Compiled By GayToday
In all, 26 states will have hate crimes laws that cover sexual orientation, once the Hawaii bill becomes law. Five states have no hate crimes laws at all, and 19 states have hate crimes laws that do not mention sexual orientation. Of the 26 states that have favorable laws, four states--California, Minnesota, Missouri and Vermont--also include gender identity in their laws. "The very good news out of Hawaii demonstrates the real progress we are making, year by year, state by state," said NGLTF Political Director Tim McFeeley. "At the same time, despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of the U.S. public supports hate crimes laws, Congress and George W. Bush are silent on the issue. The gulf between positive state action and callous federal inaction grows wider by the day."
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Honolulu, Hawaii--Passage yesterday of a hate crimes bill in Hawaii means that for the
first time in U.S. history, a majority of the 50 states will have hate
crimes laws covering sexual orientation, the National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force reported today.
