SEESHOLTZ: The Campaign to Kill the Matthew Shepard Act

[SeveneightyWhoa]

The Campaign to Kill the Matthew Shepard Act

May 16 2007
Counterbias.com
MEL SEESHOLTZ


At first glance, hate-crime laws may seem unnecessary. Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads:

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

“Equal protection” should mean equal protection afforded to equal citizens. Hate-crime laws seem to make crimes against some citizens worse than the same crimes committed against other citizens. After the House passed H.R. 1952, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council argued that “the actions of a majority of the House today undermine the promise of equal protection under the law guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.”

But all citizens are not equal...

Continue: http://www.counterbias.com/884.html

[ninkasi]

1. In my own humble opinion

your post deserves a greater response. You might want to consider posting it in the GLBT forum. I am a heterosexual woman of almost 64. I am white. Hate crimes disturb me greatly because they affect people I love. There is a man who is as dear to me as a son. I've known him since he was 14...he's over 40 now...and he is gay. I sat up one night listening to him as he poured out his heart to me, confronting his own sexuality for the first time.

He couldn't talk to his own mother, and his father had abandoned the family long ago. My children and I were his surrogate family. He had a safe haven, a place he could go when he needed to. This was in the early 80's, and there was a lot more intolerance then than now, although not much. How could so many years pass, with such a small improvement?

If somebody wishes to attack me because I'm considered a senior citizen, or disabled, I can handle that fine. What I absolutely CAN NOT, and refuse to tolerate, is an attack on a cherished friend, who is a wonderful man, just because he's gay. This man has more compassion, caring, and love in his little fingernail than all of the Jerry Falwells and gay haters combined.

We need hate crime legislation, because regardless of what our Constitution says, what we as a society practice is not always what conforms to reality. If Falwell, or other hate mongers had attacked women, say, they would be slapped down. Not only would women complain, but husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons would object. It is considered fair game to demonize gays, if for not other reason than that public figures are constantly testing the waters to see whether it is politically expedient for them to come forward.

As I said, you can criticize me, and I can stand up to you. When you criticize him, you have millions of backers. Gay bashers, and those who try to undo hate crime legislation make me nauseated.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

3. I've just cross-posted it there..

Mel's articles tend to get more response on the Editorials board than at the GLBT forum from what i've noticed, but I've taken your advice.. :)

[ninkasi]

2. In my own humble opinion

your post deserves a greater response. You might want to consider posting it in the GLBT forum. I am a heterosexual woman of almost 64. I am white. Hate crimes disturb me greatly because they affect people I love. There is a man who is as dear to me as a son. I've known him since he was 14...he's over 40 now...and he is gay. I sat up one night listening to him as he poured out his heart to me, confronting his own sexuality for the first time.

He couldn't talk to his own mother, and his father had abandoned the family long ago. My children and I were his surrogate family. He had a safe haven, a place he could go when he needed to. This was in the early 80's, and there was a lot more intolerance then than now, although not much. How could so many years pass, with such a small improvement?

If somebody wishes to attack me because I'm considered a senior citizen, or disabled, I can handle that fine. What I absolutely CAN NOT, and refuse to tolerate, is an attack on a cherished friend, who is a wonderful man, just because he's gay. This man has more compassion, caring, and love in his little fingernail than all of the Jerry Falwells and gay haters combined.

We need hate crime legislation, because regardless of what our Constitution says, what we as a society practice is not always what conforms to reality. If Falwell, or other hate mongers had attacked women, say, they would be slapped down. Not only would women complain, but husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons would object. It is considered fair game to demonize gays, if for not other reason than that public figures are constantly testing the waters to see whether it is politically expedient for them to come forward.

As I said, you can criticize me, and I can stand up to you. When you criticize him, you have millions of backers. Gay bashers, and those who try to undo hate crime legislation make me nauseated.