Democratic nominee for President of the United States Sen. Barak Obama delivers his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Aug. 28, 2008. Obama signed Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act Wednesday. (CU Independent file/William Drumm)
President Obama signed a bill Wednesday in a White House ceremony making it a federal crime to assault someone based on sexual orientation, gender, disability or gender identity.
Officially titled the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, this bill is named for Matthew Shepard, a gay college student in Wyoming, and James Byrd, Jr., an African American from Texas, both of whom were killed in 1998.
The bill was attached as part of the $680 billion defense authorization bill.
“It is an important federal recognition of the violence and hatred toward the GLBT community,” said Lorraine Bayard de Volo, a professor of women’s studies. “Some of the effect will by symbolic in the form of validation and opposition to this form or violence.”
While the legislation may be important symbolically, the practical nature of the bill can be argued.
“If people really have a hatred for a group of people, I don’t think this is going to stop them,” said Haley Moe, a freshman open-option major. “But I think that this will be in the back of people’s minds and it could be helpful if they’re scared of the consequences.”
A possible positive aspect of this legislation is its potential to educate the community on current GLBT issues.
“I expect it will bring public attention to and condemnation of the fact that hate crimes against the GLBT community are on the rise in this country,” Bayard de Volo said.
This is not the first GLBT civil rights issue to come into the political spotlight recently. At the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner in Washington on Oct. 10, President Obama pledged to end the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy put into effect by former President Bill Clinton. The policy restricts gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.
“It is remarkable that many people in this country who readily support civil rights in relation to sex and race are uneasy with or resistant to the notion of civil rights on GLBT issues,” Bayard de Volo said. “In that sense, while it might not be the last battle, it is at least the most controversial current battle.”
Another current GLBT issue planned to receive even more attention in the next few years is same-sex marriage, which is currently permitted in six of the 50 states.
“It sounds to me like in the last few years a lot of GLBT legislation has been passed,” said Jackie Levy, a senior studying science education. “I think this is a step in the right direction for civil rights.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jesse Flint at Jesse.flint@colorado.edu.
