LGBTQ

Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
Friday, 30 October 2009 16:27
On October 28, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This act gives the Department of Justice (DOJ) the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence by providing the DOJ with jurisdiction over crimes of violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Click here to read President Obama's remarks at the signing.