AG Holder's LGBT & Gender Comments At Anti-Defamation League's 2009 American He

[Shana A]

AG Holder's LGBT & Gender Comments At Anti-Defamation League's 2009 American Heritage Dinner
by: Autumn Sandeen
Sun Oct 18, 2009 at 14:30:00 PM EDT

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/13605/ag-holders-lgbt-gender-comments-at-antidefamation-leagues-2009-american-heritage-dinner

From the remarks prepared for delivery by Attorney General Eric Holder at the Anti-Defamation League's 2009 American Heritage Dinner, where he mentions the add of sexual orientation, gender identity, and perceived gender to the new hate crimes legislation (emphasis added):

    ...In the last ten years, approximately half of all reported hate crimes were racially motivated. But I don't need to tell this organization that other groups are targets of hate crimes too.

snip

    The new law expands the list of protected categories beyond race, color, religion, or national origin, and, for the first time, allows the federal government to prosecute violence undertaken because of the actual or perceived gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability of any person. Under the law about to be replaced, these crimes fell entirely outside the reach of federal law enforcement, and only a handful of state laws offer such protection. And let me add that the change allowing us to prosecute crimes motivated by gender is particularly satisfying because it comes in the middle of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In my Justice Department, we will make combating violence against women a top priority.