Senate Passes Gay Hate Bill
by Paul Johnson
365Gay.com Newscenter
Washington Bureau Chief


(Washington) The US Senate Tuesday passed legislation adding gay and trans people to the groups protected against hate crimes.

The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act passed 65 to 33 on a bipartisan vote. It was moved as an amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill.

The measure adds "real or perceived sexual orientation, gender and disability" to federal hate crime laws, thus allowing the federal government the ability to provide assistance for the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes based on these categories.

Gay civil rights groups hailed the vote. The Human Rights Campaign called it an important step toward giving law enforcement the tools they need to investigate and prosecute hate crimes.