Public Favors Expansion of Hate Crime Law to Include Sexual Orientation

[JackBeck]

Majorities of Republicans, conservatives, and frequent church attenders in favor

by Frank Newport

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- A substantial majority of the American public favors the expansion of federal hate crime legislation to include crimes against people based on their gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed such legislation, which is now being considered by the Senate. Republicans, conservatives, and religious Americans are slightly less likely than others to favor the expansion of hate crime legislation, but a majority of those in each of these conservative and religious groups favors the proposed legislation.

There is a proposal to expand federal hate crime laws to include crimes committed on the basis of the victim's gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Would you favor or oppose expanding the federal hate crime laws in this way?


TOTAL %
68 Favor
27 Oppose

Republicans
60 F
34 O

Independents
69 F
27 O

Democrats
75 F
21 O

Conservatives
57 F
37 O

Moderates
74 F
22 O

Liberals
82 F
15 O

Protestant and other non-catholic Christians
65 F
30 O

Catholics
72 F
23 O

Other religion
74 F
23 O

No religious identity
74 F
25 O

Attend church weekly
64 F
30 O

Attend church almost every week/monthly
67 F
29 O

Attend church seldom, never
73 F
23 O
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This is encouraging. I had no idea how there was such a broad spectrum of support for this bill. And the President has threatened to veto it. Yet another example of how Mr. 28% is out of touch with the American people.

[marmar]

1. Overwhelmingly in favor....

from the Human Rights Campaign:

Americans overwhelmingly support the expansion of the hate crimes law. According to a new poll conducted by Hart Research, large majorities of every major subgroup of the electorate — including such traditionally conservative groups as Republican men (56 percent) and evangelical Christians (63 percent) — express support for strengthening hate crimes laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Support also crosses racial lines — with three in four whites (74 percent), African-Americans (74 percent) and Latino/as (72 percent) supporting the act.

More than 210 law enforcement, civil rights, civic and religious organizations support the passage of this crucial piece of legislation, including:

President George H.W. Bush’s attorney general, Dick Thornburgh
National Sheriffs’ Association
International Association of Chiefs of Police
National District Attorneys Association
Presbyterian Church
Episcopal Church
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Council of La Raza
Parents Network on Disabilities
Human Rights Campaign
In addition, the bill is supported by 31 state attorneys general and the leading law enforcement organizations — because, despite progress toward equality in almost all segments of society, hate crimes continue to spread fear and violence among entire communities of Americans, and local law enforcement entities lack the tools and resources to prevent and prosecute these crimes.

Similar bills have passed both the House and Senate in recent years but have failed to be signed into law.

http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Security&CONTENTID=36518&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm

[JackBeck]

2. Thanks for that information.

I'm collecting all that I can in the lead-up to the Senate's vote on this bill in June.

[JackBeck]

3. Kick for the evening crew.