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Congress Backs Off Extended Hate Law

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The Associated Press

Published: December 7, 2007

WASHINGTON - Congress has dropped legislation that would have expanded laws against hate crimes to include attacks on gay people after it became clear the measure would not pass the House, aides said Thursday.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., was widely supported by Democrats and some moderate Senate Republicans. But because it was attached to a major defense policy bill that would have authorized more money for the Iraq war, many anti-war Democrats said they would oppose it.

"We don't have the votes," said one House Democratic aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because conference negotiations on the defense bill were ongoing.

The development is a blow to civil rights groups that say broadening federal laws is necessary to address a rise in crimes motivated by hate and based upon a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Under current federal law, hate crimes include acts of violence against individuals on the basis of race, religion, color or national origin. Federal prosecutors have jurisdiction only if the victim is engaged in a specific federally protected activity such as voting.

Kennedy's bill would have included sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability in the category.

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