New Site Gathers Religious Support for Hate Crimes Bill
Feature Story by Tyler Lewis - 6/13/2007
A number of religious leaders have created a new website designed to show the depth of support for a new federal hate crimes bill.
The new site, ClergyAgainstHate.org, provides religious leaders who support The Matthew Shepard Act a petition they can sign in support of the bill.
The religious groups, including The Interfaith Alliance (TIA), the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA), and the Religious Action Center (RAC), created the site because "As religious leaders, we are on the front lines dealing with the devastating effects hate-motivated violence has on our communities. Hate crimes not only harm individuals, they also rend the fabric of society by making entire communities feel isolated, vulnerable and unprotected."
The groups say that the site is particularly useful because it provides individual clergy who may or may not be affiliated with national or state and local groups an opportunity to show support for the bill.
"Endorsement of this bill by faith leaders is especially important because opponents have all-too often implied that the legislation is hostile to religion. The voices of a broad range of clergymen and women who preach that tolerance, acceptance, and kindness are essential religious values are needed more than ever," said Rabbi David Saperstein, director and counsel at RAC.
The Matthew Shepard Act will expand coverage to include gender, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and individuals with disabilities. It also provide grants to state and local communities to combat violent crimes committed by juveniles, train law enforcement officers, or to assist in state and local investigations and prosecutions of bias motivated crimes.
The most recent data shows that hate violence continues to be a problem in the U.S.
FBI statistics for 2005 showed a slight decline in hate crimes (about 7,163, down from 7,649 in 2004), but major cities like New York City, Phoenix and states like Alabama and Mississippi did not report. Civil rights groups called the 2005 statistics "incomplete" and "a setback to the progress the Bureau has made in the [hate crimes] program."
Many religious groups support the new bill because they believe existing federal law is inadequate to address the significant national problem of hate crimes.
"My commitment to civil rights legislation stems from my belief as a Unitarian Universalist – a belief shared by many people of conscience -- that every person has inherent worth and dignity, and that every person, regardless of ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity, deserves equal protection under the law," said UUA President Rev. William G. Sinkford. "As a minister and the leader of the Unitarian Universalist Association, I strongly support the Matthew Shepard Act."
Many religious leaders who support the bill argue that their support is often overshadowed by the religious leaders opposed to the bill.
"Unfortunately, a few religious voices, arrogantly and wrongly claiming to represent the view of all religious people, continue attempts to defeat hate crimes legislation. Their despicable language related to this bill should reveal their motivation and identity as they rant and rave about the application of this legislation to 'cross-dressers' or as they raise the red herring of this bill criminalizing speech or thought," said TIA President Rev. Welton Gaddy.
In addition to civil rights, labor, and law enforcement organizations, the Matthew Shepard Act has enjoyed broad support from organizations representing millions of religious Americans, including Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Unitarians. ClergyAgainstHate.org contains a list of more than 30 religious organization supporters.
The House version of the bill passed overwhelmingly on May 4. The bill was named after Matthew Shepard, a hate crime victim murdered more than eight years ago in Laramie, Wyoming, when the Senate introduced the bill in April.
The Senate has not voted on the Matthew Shepard Act yet, but a vote is expected in the coming weeks.
