Press Release - April 29th, 2009
News Item

Washington, DC - Today, the Stonewall Democrats applauded the passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act by the United States House of Representatives.  The legislation passed the House of Representatives with a 249 to 175 vote.  231 Democrats voted in favor of the legislation with 17 voting against.  18 Republicans voted for the legislation with 158 voting against.

"Stonewall Democrats thanks President Obama and the Democratic Leadership for their strong support which ultimately led to the passage of this legislation," said Jon Hoadley, Executive Director of the Stonewall Democrats.  "We now have a President who is willing to sign this crucial legislation into law and that is why we continue to build support for its passage in the United States Senate.  The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act would close legal loopholes which treats violence targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community as less important that crimes committed on the basis of other factors.  This legislation gives local law enforcement agencies the tools that they need to equally prosecute bias motivated crimes."

On Tuesday, the White House urged lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.  In a statement to lawmakers and the press, President Obama said "This week, the House of Representatives is expected to consider H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009.  I urge members on both sides of the aisle to act on this important civil rights issue by passing this legislation to protect all of our citizens from violent acts of intolerance - legislation that will enhance civil rights protections, while also protecting our freedom of speech and association.  I also urge the Senate to work with my Administration to finalize this bill and to take swift action."

With more than 120 local chapters the Stonewall Democrats is the national organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied Democrats.  Stonewall Democrats works to elect pro-equality Democrats to public office and improve the Democratic Party on issues important to pro-equality Americans.

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