Democrats Criticize Democrats on Hate Crimes Failure

The Matthew Shepard Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing federal hate crimes statutes, was stripped from a defense appropriations bill late last week by Democrats, a move that has angered lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups and has drawn criticism from fellow Democrats.

Bob Olson, a DFL candidate for Minnesota's 6th Congressional District, released a scathing statement criticizing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leadership for playing games with such an important bill.

"Hate crimes legislation deserved an up-or-down vote on its merits last week. By attaching this important proposal to a defense policy bill, House leadership is guilty of playing the same type of political games Republicans used for so long," said Olson. "I favor the legislation, which would extend hate crimes protection to people attacked because of their sexual orientation, and I’m simply appalled that Speaker Pelosi and her lieutenants have handled this matter so poorly."

Olson continued: "Politics as usual has failed the American people for too long. I hope leadership finally learns that lesson."

Judy Sheppard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, an openly gay Wyoming college student brutally murdered in 1998, released a statement on the failure of the measure. "We are truly dismayed to find that Congress now will put aside its leadership on passage of federal hate crimes legislation that includes sexual orientation and gender identity," she said. "At this time of year that fills us all with hope for humankind, we are sad to find that a Congressional majority of each House who have already adopted the Matthew Shepard Act cannot yet come together."

Presidential candidate Barack Obama scolded fellow Democrats for not trying harder. "While it is imperative that the Congress move this Defense Authorization bill, I am extremely disappointed that House and Senate negotiators failed to include this important provision in the bill being sent to the President ... All Americans deserve to live their lives without fear of hate driven attacks," the Illinois senator said in a press statement. "Almost 40 years after Congress first enacted a federal hate crimes law, it is our moral obligation to continue striving for equality, and ensure that the federal government, along with state and local jurisdictions, have the tools necessary to effectively prosecute these crimes. Given the rise in hate crimes nationally, failure to pass this vital legislation is truly unacceptable."

Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, called on Congress to send a stand-alone bill straight to President Bush's desk. He said: "We call on the Senate to immediately advance a stand-alone version of hate crimes that matches the version passed by the House earlier this year and send it to the president’s desk. When the president vetoes the bill — as he has repeatedly promised to do — everyone will see just how subservient this administration is to America’s anti-gay industry. Force his hand, for goodness sake, rather than hiding us away."

Pelosi released a statement of her own stating that she will work to get the bill to Bush's desk. She said, "I am strongly committed to sending the hate crimes legislation, passed by the House earlier this year, to the President for his signature. Democrats have worked exhaustively with advocacy groups and polled Members repeatedly, but it is clear that attaching the language to the DoD authorization bill would not create a successful outcome in the House," she said. "House Democratic leaders will work with our Senate colleagues to make certain that a hate crimes bill passes the Senate and goes to the President's desk."