GOOD DAY!
1. Hate Crimes Law Passes House
From AP - Unexpectedly, the House voted 223-199 in favor of an amendment by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., that expands current hate crime law to include some crimes involving sexual orientation, gender and disability. Under current law, the federal government assists local and state authorities prosecuting limited types of crimes based on the victim's race, religion or ethnic background.
The House has been the chief obstacle in numerous previous attempts to expand hate crimes law, and Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights group, said it was an "incredibly historic vote" that could give momentum to similar action in the Senate.
2. MA Legislature defeats amendment
From 365gay.com - (Boston, Massachusetts) A joint session of the House and Senate on Wednesday rejected a proposed amendment that would ban same-sex marriage while allowing civil unions, but another anti-gay amendment looms on the horizon.
Today's vote was the second of a two part process to get the proposal onto the ballot in 2006.
With less than two hours of debate lawmakers voted 157-39 against the measure.
From AP - Unexpectedly, the House voted 223-199 in favor of an amendment by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., that expands current hate crime law to include some crimes involving sexual orientation, gender and disability. Under current law, the federal government assists local and state authorities prosecuting limited types of crimes based on the victim's race, religion or ethnic background.
The House has been the chief obstacle in numerous previous attempts to expand hate crimes law, and Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights group, said it was an "incredibly historic vote" that could give momentum to similar action in the Senate.
2. MA Legislature defeats amendment
From 365gay.com - (Boston, Massachusetts) A joint session of the House and Senate on Wednesday rejected a proposed amendment that would ban same-sex marriage while allowing civil unions, but another anti-gay amendment looms on the horizon.
Today's vote was the second of a two part process to get the proposal onto the ballot in 2006.
With less than two hours of debate lawmakers voted 157-39 against the measure.