Legislate Against Hate

Within the next 24 hours, the US Senate is scheduled to vote on an important hate crimes prevention act (S. 1105, Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Prevention Act of 2007 - LLEHCPA). This legislation, already passed by the House of Representatives will, for the first time, allow for the federal prosecution of certain hate crimes based on sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability. And the LLEHCPA will also provide local police and sheriff's departments with vital federal resources to address hate crimes on a larger, more inclusive scale.

Hate is not a family value. Hate is not a moral value. Hate is not a faith value (at least not my faith). And moreover, hate is not a democratic value, and thus should not be tolerated in our democratic society.

Now contrary to what folks are saying, this legislation does NOT criminalize speech, nor does it limit religious freedom. People can still think their unfortunate bigotted thoughts and even express them. Narrow-minded preachers can still spout their bad theology of exclusion and intolerance (though I hope and pray they will come to see how destructive such thoughts are, not only on society, but on their very souls). However, hate-filled people will not be allowed to attack another human being, to commit a crime against another human being just because of who they are - their gender, their race, their sexual orientation, their religious identity. And this legislation protects people from being the victim of violence perpetrated by those who hate. I believe that every human being is endowed with dignity and worth. And crimes motivated by hate cannot and should not be tolerated in our world.

Two months ago, I was at a rally in Denver, Colorado when LLEHCPA passed in the U.S. House of Represenatives. On that day, my boss, the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, delivered this speech:

We have passed the House. Now I urge you, readers, to please contact your senators and tell them to enact the hate crimes bill today!