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Senator Warner Softens Opposition to Hate Crimes Bill

'The Horror of this Crime has to Influence my Judgment'

Thursday Schedule: Vigils for Roanoke Shooting Victims

Compiled By GayToday

Sen. John Warner

Roanoke, Virginia� Senator John Warner, (Republican-Virginia) has softened his opposition to adding "sexual orientation" to the U.S. Government's anti-hate crime legislation, The Roanoke Times reported yesterday.

Last Friday in Roanoke, a disgruntled gunman, Ronald Gay, admitted that it was he who'd opened fire on 7 patrons in a gay bar, killing Danny Lee Overstreet and wounding six others, one of whom is listed in critical condition.

The attack has highlighted the increasing brutality of antigay hate crimes in America and has sadly demonstrated why the U.S. Congress should pass comprehensive hate crime legislation this year. Virginia's hate crimes law does not include sexual orientation.

Senator Warner told The Roanoke Times:

"I have to tell you frankly, the horror of this crime has to influence my judgment when this thing is brought back up on the floor of the Senate�I don't think many people understood hate-crime laws until this horrible crime occurred."

The hate crime bill has been attached to a military spending bill, which, reportedly finds Warner and other Republican politicians fearing it could put the national defense budget in danger.

Because he is negotiating both the defense and the hate crime bills, Warner is seen as the politician most capable of making or breaking the controversial bill.

Once again, following the parents of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, relatives of a murdered gay man are jumping into the political fray, demanding hate crime law passage. Senator Warner has expressed his willingness to meet with Carol and Misty Overstreet, Danny Overstreet's sister and his 17-year old niece.

The Hate Free Roanoke Task Force is planning a vigil for the victims on Thursday evening and the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Projects and Virginians for Justice have called for similar vigil services nationwide and all over Virginia to coincide with the Roanoke vigil.

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:

Virginia Senator Asked to Help Pass a Hate Crimes Bill

1 Dead, Six Wounded in a Roanoke, Virginia Gay Bar

Hate Crime Bill Clears Major Hurdle in U.S. Congress

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Sen. John Warner

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Attending one of these events will honor the Roanoke shooting victims and support expanded hate crimes legislation at the state and federal level.

In Roanoke:
Candlelight Vigil and March, Elmwood Park Amphitheater, downtown, Thursday September 28, 7 p.m. For more information contact the M.C.C. Church of Blueridge at (540) 344 - 4444. If you would like to contribute to the Roanoke 7 Fund to remember Danny Overstreet and provide assistance to the other victims, send a check to: Roanoke 7 Fund, c/o Christ of Good Shepherd, American Catholic Church, PO Box 3359, Roanoke, VA 24015.

In Washington, DC:
Rally and Vigil, Lafayette Park, corner of 16th and H St., Thursday September 28, 12:30 p.m. Representatives of the Interfaith Alliance, NAACP, National Council of La Raza, Eldership Conference on Civil Rights, HRC and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force will speak. Contact Donna Payne at (202) 216-1544 for more information.

In Arlington, Virginia:
Interfaith Service, Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd. (intersection of Route 50 and George Mason Drive), Thursday September 28, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Speakers include Rev. Joan Gelbian and Jay Fisette, Vice Chair of the Arlington County Board. For more information contact Debray Peezly at (703) 437-3717 or Jay Fisette's office at (703) 524 - 2277.

In Charlottesville, Virginia:
Candlelight Vigil, University of Virginia at the Lawn, 9:00 p.m. The UVA Women's Center and the M.C.C. church are sponsoring the vigil. HRC Executive Director, Elizabeth Birch, will be among the speakers, following her public talk at Newcomb Hall at 8:00 p.m.

If you are a Virginia resident log on to HRC's Action Center to send a fax to Senator John Warner. You can click on the link below and once in the Action Center, click on the alert that reads Roanoke Tragedy/ Please Take Action.