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Obama signs first major federal gay rights law
The Miami Herald ^ | 10.28.09 | MARGARET TALEV

Posted on 10/29/2009 12:13:03 AM PDT by kingattax

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed the first major piece of federal gay rights legislation, a milestone that activists compared to the passage of 1960s civil rights legislation empowering blacks.

The new law adds acts of violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to the list of federal hate crimes. Gay rights activists voiced hope that the Obama administration would advance more issues, including legislation to bar workplace discrimination, allow military service and recognize same-sex marriages.

Congress passed the hate crimes protections as an unlikely amendment to this year's Defense Authorization Act. Obama, speaking at an emotional evening reception with supporters of the legislation, said that more than 12,000 hate crimes had been reported the past decade based on sexual orientation.

He spoke of President Lyndon Johnson signing protections for blacks in the 1960s and said this was an extension of that work. "We must stand against crimes that are meant not only to break bones but to break spirits," Obama said. "No one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hands of the person they love

(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bho44; bhobillsigning; gayvote; homosexualagenda
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To: kingattax
President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed the first major piece of federal gay rights legislation

This law is not major, it is just symbolism. The fed is not going to be prosecuting many of these cases, if any. Almost all violent acts is done by the states, and truth be told, there is not many of these anti-gay attacks. 10 years later, Matthew Shepard is still the poster child because these types of acts are so rare.

21 posted on 10/29/2009 2:41:40 AM PDT by Always Right
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To: kingattax; Allegra; big'ol_freeper; Lil'freeper; TrueKnightGalahad; blackie; Larry Lucido; ...
Well, so much... for Freedom of Religion if you are Christian
22 posted on 10/29/2009 3:41:39 AM PDT by Bender2 ("I've got a twisted sense of humor, and everything amuses me." RAH Beyond this Horizon)
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To: kingattax

“0bama signs first major federal gay rights law.”

While the rest of the world, especially China, Russia, and Iran, are girding their loins, 0bama is...well, I won’t go there.


23 posted on 10/29/2009 3:42:07 AM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast ( If you have kids, you have no right of privacy that the govt can't flick off your shoulder.)
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To: kingattax

Can anyone point me to the Constitutional authority for enacting such legislation? My quick scan of Article I, Section 8 reveals no power in which Congress could pass this legislation. But then again, silly me I still assume the Constitution actually means something.


24 posted on 10/29/2009 3:56:29 AM PDT by Federalist Society
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To: DoughtyOne
Since according to der leader, we are just an equal nation I think it becomes necessary for us to ship the UN packing to some other coequal...like Somalia. Think of all the good that could come from being there...raising the locals out of poverty as these groups of plutocrats dine in the local restaurants, rent the finest abodes and drive the fanciest of cars all on the dime of their represented governments or on the dime of the US taxpayers.

Vince

25 posted on 10/29/2009 4:04:37 AM PDT by Mouton
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To: kingattax
I personally think he is so passionate about this because he is bi.

Just my opinion, based on how he acts along with other stories I have read about his childhood/college days.

Again, just my opinion.

26 posted on 10/29/2009 4:22:11 AM PDT by Jackknife (Chuck Norris grinds his coffee with his teeth, and boils his water with his rage)
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To: jsh3180
"Did someone say gay?"

The way zerO cocks his leg? A dead give away.
He's a Nancy boy if ever there were. LOL

27 posted on 10/29/2009 4:31:11 AM PDT by Landru (Forget the pebble Grasshopper, just go.)
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To: jsh3180

Holy mackerel. No words are necessary.


28 posted on 10/29/2009 4:34:33 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: trisham

Now this is a priority to waste time on ........sigh


29 posted on 10/29/2009 5:06:53 AM PDT by Cheryllynn
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To: kingattax

Just great, more wonderful stimulation from the best president Chicago could buy.


30 posted on 10/29/2009 5:35:08 AM PDT by Mobilemitter (We must learn to fin >-)> for ourselves.........)
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To: kingattax

What exactly is a “Hate crime” anyway? It’s the stupidest term, because it implies that other crimes are “love crimes...”


31 posted on 10/29/2009 5:53:08 AM PDT by RockinRight (Shove it down our throats in 2009, and we'll shove it up your a$$ in 2010.)
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To: kingattax

Yes ,,,, and he named the law after LARRY SINCLAIR to insure that no one would cause him harm .


32 posted on 10/29/2009 6:43:08 AM PDT by lionheart 247365 (-:{ GLEN BECK is 0bama's TRANSPARENCY CZAR }:-)
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To: Always Right

And Matthew Shepherd was not killed for being gay. This is the “big lie” that is told over and over about his case. The goons who killed him did not target him for attack for being gay. He just makes a convenient symbol for the gay groups to use.


33 posted on 10/29/2009 7:26:51 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: pandoraou812

Well, I don’t believe our diplomats always get treated as they should, but I do believe it could be much worse if we did away with this policy.

There are instances when they aren’t treated well, but those are isolated IMO.

We agree on the rest.


34 posted on 10/29/2009 9:05:43 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Unseal the lock box containing every document pertaining to Obama's life, TODAY!)
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To: Mouton

I think that’s a great idea.

Let’s pick the biggest hell hole on the planet, and move the U.N. there. After all, all societies are equal. Podunk Somalia would be as good a place as any.

And as we’ve seen U.N. workers in Chad show their true colors, just think of the dates those U.N. workers could get.


35 posted on 10/29/2009 9:08:42 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Unseal the lock box containing every document pertaining to Obama's life, TODAY!)
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To: pandoraou812

The U.S. puts a ton of money into the UN but the financial costs pale in comparison to the expense to our political position in the world and to our sovereignty. The UN is a driving force behind disunity and conflict in the world not peace and harmony IMO.


36 posted on 10/29/2009 5:27:50 PM PDT by TigersEye (Democracy sucks!)
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To: TigersEye
Canada wants the UN or did & I say fine. I think the UN ought to have the chance to be in another country. There is no reason we have to it. I agree......

The UN is a driving force behind disunity and conflict in the world not peace and harmony

37 posted on 10/29/2009 7:54:19 PM PDT by pandoraou812 (Don't play leapfrog with a unicorn.....................^........................)
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