Posted on 09/24/2004 6:29:46 PM PDT by Cracker72
PlanetOut Network
SUMMARY: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) signed a hate crimes bill on Wednesday that includes crimes motivated by a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a hate crimes bill on Wednesday that includes crimes motivated by a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
It was the second time this month that Schwarzenegger, a Republican, signed legislation that protects the rights of LGBT residents in the state. He signed a law on Sept. 13 that required insurance companies to provide coverage to registered domestic partners.
Known as the Omnibus Hate Crimes Act of 2004 (or SB 1234), the new law creates a uniform definition of a hate crime that includes offenses based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also covers crimes against victims based on their associations with people who are gay or transgender.
"California is working to unify its citizens as others attempt to divide us," Cheryl Jacques, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement. "We hope this welcome development acts as a beacon to Congress to take similar steps in protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans from the scourge of hate crimes."
The U.S. House of Representatives was expected to begin considering a similar national hate crimes law, known as the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (LLEEA, S. 966/H.R. 4204), later this week.
The Log Cabin Republicans (news - web sites), the nation's largest gay and lesbian GOP group, reacted to the new law as a victory for the moderate side of the Republican Party.
"We can be the party of the Gov. Schwarzenegger that includes equality for the LGBT community, as part of a mainstream Republican message of hope, not fear, or we can be the party of Lou Sheldon and Alan Keyes (news - web sites), that divides our families by preaching intolerance and hate," said Jeff Bissiri, chairman of Log Cabin California.
California's new hate crimes law was written by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, and sponsored by Equality California, the statewide LGBT rights group.
Oh, good...I'm not the only one who noticed. I think you can change that to the "last year." Hoardes of moderates, absconding with the "conservative" label.
I don't think it is relevant if the crime was committed due to hatred. Black people commit crimes against whites because they "hate whitey"....but it is NEVER prosecuted as such.
Murder is against the law. If I am killed, the criminal will get 25 to life....if I am gay...the guy will do 50? Why is his sexual preference involverd in determining the punishment. That is not equal protection, that is special protection. You are the one on shaky ground. I hope someone contests this law....but I doubt it will happen in this liberal utopia.
You have just proven yourself to be an idiot.
The second amendment is not about hunting.
An assault weapon can be my fist...I could assault you with a spoon. The term "assault weapon" was made up by liberals who hate the way certain semi-automatic rifles looked. It had nothing to do with crime, it was a cosmetic hatred. The assault weapons bill is a hate law against "ugly guns".
This will work about as well as the stiffer drug laws work against drug addicts. It's nonsense.
No need to take polls....I know many gay men. I used to live in West Hollywood.
You don't think any gay men or lesbians in San Fransico ever beat up someone for being straight? My man & his ex-girlfriend were assaulted by lesbians at a gay pride parade for being "breeders". They were not inciting anyone....the lesbians just didn't like seeing them kiss so they started screaming BREEDERS at them....and came after them with a knife. They intended to cut them for being straight. My man is not a gay hater...his sister is gay, but those women wanted to hurt them for NOT being gay.
You revealed yourself as someone incapable of sarcasm.
Nice try....I am a female.
Perhaps these facsists would perfer to print up a list of items with which it is permissable to voice displeasure.
"gays and transgendered freaks have traditionally gotten the shit kicked out of them by white heterosexual males"
Having been involved in skating I have known lots of homosexuals. Most crimes against homosexuals are done by other (jealous) homosexuals. I knew a lesbian who was ran over by a jealous "girlfriend". I also knew a homosexual that preyed on young boys and ended up in prison. The few "Sam Shephards" are tragic, but the vast majority of crimes (Versace, etc.) are ignored because they were committed by other homosexuals. And Shephard's actions were buried because they would have disgusted people--the leftist media could not have allowed the details to get out---just like they covered up the boy, JesseD murder by the two homosexuals......whose the victims? I say the white hetersexual males.
Goodnight, delusional one.
In the News/Activism forum, on a thread titled Schwarzenegger signs hate crimes law [protecting gays, transgendered], Dr. Frank fan wrote: No, you guys, this is just the right thing to do. For too long now it's been perfectly legal to assault, even murder, homosexuals. This was simply a long-overlooked loophole in the law and Schwarzenegger was perfectly right to close it. FINALLY, it's against the law to assault or murder a homosexual! ;-)
A crime is a crime is a crime is a crime...it shouldn't matter one damned bit whether the person is black, white, gay, straight....period.
Which should then simply get struck down for that reason? Supreme Coruts generally don't run laws through constitutional filters and leave the rest, they just strike the whole thing down if they deem something is constitutionally wrong.
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