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Unanimous (!) Support for Federal Hate Crimes Legislation

This is one for the record books.

The Oregon Senate today unanimously passed House Joint Memorial 22, calling on Congress to pass and the President to sign expanded federal hate crimes legislation to include the gay and transgender community. The resolution was passed unanimously by the House last month.

That’s right.  Unanimous support.  Every single member of the Legislature who was in the Capitol on the days of these votes supported this resolution!

Jeana Frazzini, Executive Director of Basic Rights Oregon, released the following statement in response to the legislature’s action:

“Times sure are changing. Two years ago it would have be inconceivable to have unanimous votes in both the House and Senate in favor of gay rights. We applaud all the lawmakers who have made it clear that gay and transgender Oregonians need and deserve to feel safe and at home in our state.

“Today’s vote reflects a sea change in public opinion as more and more Americans demonstrate their commitment to treat all of their neighbors with dignity and respect. I hope Congress and the President will hear this message loud and clear: Oregonians are unanimous in their support for equality for the gay and transgender community.”

House Joint Memorial 22 was drafted following a brutal hate crime targeting two gay men visiting Seaside, Oregon on spring break. The resolution condemns this attack, reaffirms our state’s commitment to inclusion and respect for all, and calls on Congress to pass the Matthew Shepard Act. If passed, the Matthew Shepard Act would provide resources to state and local governments investigating bias motivated, violent crimes based on sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.

According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 2,430 anti-LGBT hate crimes were reported nationally in 2007. And 2007 saw the greatest number of anti-LGBT murders in eight years. 21 gay and transgender people were murdered in the United States in 2007–more than double the number in 2006.