FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2009
CONTACT: Tanner Efinger, 978-604-0942
Today President Barack Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This is the first time federal action has been taken to protect people who are violently victimized for their gender identity or sexual orientation. However, this expansion of federal hate crimes protections to cover sexual orientation and gender identity sends a mixed message.
“It’s good that the U.S. government has finally taken action to deter hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. But by continuing to permit or even require discrimination against LGBT people in our relationships, in public service and in the workplace, the government fuels the very bigotry that results in violent attacks,” said Tanner Efinger of Equality Across America.
Passage of the Act shows that escalated protest over the past year, such as at the National Equality March (NEM) on October 11th, is putting significant pressure on Congress to address anti-LGBT discrimination.
“We applaud and congratulate Matthew Shepard’s mom, Judy, who has inspired so many over the last eleven years and did so again when she spoke at the National Equality March, this October,” said Robin McGehee, co-director of the NEM. “She has truly shown what being a fierce advocate for equality and justice is truly about, even after facing such a horrible tragedy based in hate.”
Equality Across America will use this federal action to redouble our efforts to mobilize forces in all 435 Congressional districts to fight for full equality in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
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Equality Across America is a network of decentralized organizers in every one of the 435 Congressional districts. These organizers form Congressional District Action Teams (CDATs) that work within their own communities to achieve full equality for LGBT Americans and their families. This includes the right to work our jobs and go to school free of harassment and discrimination; the right to safety in our daily lives, and protection from hate crimes; the right to equitable healthcare, and the right to donate blood; the right to equitable immigration policies; the right to marry; and the right to serve in the military openly.
Any EEA action within the last three weeks had next to zero impact on this passage and to suggest otherwise is ego-centric at best. This has been long in the making and the dismissal of the significance here is an insult. Please remove me from your distribution.
Thank you President Obama- its a start. Special gratitude and love to Judy Shepard
Well “Rich”, who knows why you would feel so insulted, but this law is just the beginning, not the ending, so why in the world quit now? And it’s an INSULT to Matthew Shepard’s legacy, and his friends and family and all Americans, that it didn’t happen ten years ago… AND that people of conscience had to practically BEG for so long, for protection under the law. In the US of A! So I also feel insulted too.
Oh, and it’s EAA, not EEA, is that supposed to be another slight? Well, “EAA” makes a very good point with their statement: that our own government is even more at odds with itself, by requiring discrimination against LGBT people in many areas, while at the same time making some forms of discrimination a federal crime (which it should be). It is just a reminder that this now sets up an even more glaring imbalance that needs resolving.
The mainstream media may have ignored us on October 10-11, but we made a big statement, as people, and not as “constituents of HRC or the Task Force”. That too was overdue and very important. Thank you Cleve Jones (and all the organizers too).
The Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act marks a significant milestone in the fight to protect everyone from hate crimes and harassment. Now all of us must redouble our efforts to prevent hate crimes by addressing bigotry, prejudice and divisions in our communities and schools –before they spike into violent acts. Keep on EEA and others who are working for hate free communities. Patrice O’Neill Not In Our Town (www.niot.org)
IN the past few months since the march organizing took off there has been a surge of legislative action and heightened social acceptance of LGBT civil rights—3 new states got marriage equality, hate crimes legislation passed, there is proposed repeal DOMA legislation, Republicans in NY state, and elsewhere, backing down and about to concede marriage rights in that state (and DC), positive mainstream media coverage of LGBT issues, a presidential speech declaring (future) action on LGBT issues, newly formed groups popping up in communities across the U.S.
If those tied to the old strategies of backroom dealing, black tie dinners and catering to politicians would like to advance the notion that this has nothing to do with the enormous outpouring of grassroots activism they are welcome to do so. Every bit as much as they are welcome to advance the notion that the Earth is flat and gravity is a myth. The rest of us should throw ourselves into building on the momentum of the march and organizing the hundreds of local groups that are now on fire from into EAA.