Obama challenges McCain on stalled hate crimes bill
Anti-violence group reports surge in anti-gay attacks
LOU CHIBBARO JR
Friday, August 22, 2008
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2008/8-22/news/national/13134.cfm (http://www.washingtonblade.com/2008/8-22/news/national/13134.cfm)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is challenging his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), to end his opposition to a federal hate crimes bill following reports of a recent surge in anti-gay and anti-transgender hate crimes.
In a conference call Monday, an official with the Obama campaign's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Steering Committee noted that Obama is a strong supporter of the Matthew Shepard National Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act while McCain opposes the legislation.