Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Hate Crimes Amendment   [David Freddoso]

It hasn't shown up yet on the Thomas search engine, but I'm told that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has filed the hate crimes amendment to the defense authorization bill. The amendment is different from hate crimes laws on the books because it treats homosexuality and transsexuality (that is, "sexual orientation" and "gender identity") as new protected classes — i.e., as if they were races or sexes.

Many Christian pastors have expressed concern that this bill opens the way for them to be be prosecuted — as has happened in other countries — simply for teaching the long-held Christian position that homosexual activity is a serious sin. Attempts to add a religious freedom clause were rebuffed, although the fear is less of this particular bill than the precedent it sets and the slippery slope that might result. The bill also involves the federal government deeply in prosecuting local hate crimes.

The Bush administration has promised a veto. This and similar amendments have been added on to the defense bill for years, for purposes of getting them through Congress.

09/25 05:44 PMShare