May 1, 2009
Love Will Conquer Hate
The Ministry of Magic had to enforce Muggle Protection Acts to prevent the killing and torturing of Muggles by wizards, but at the same time, they would pass laws that made it harder for Lupin, a werewolf, to find job.
Once again, the similarities between the Harry Potter world and ‘the real’ world become more apparent. Muggle governments enforce laws preventing discrimination, and yet we still need laws that better protect the LGBT community, different ethnicities and people with disabilities from hate crimes. It took 10 years, but we are now closer than ever to having an anti-hate crimes bill passed by congress and signed by our President. The US House passed the Matthew Shepard Act – A bill that would not only protect gays and lesbians but also transgender people who are a part of the community that is left out more often than not. Now, the Matthew Shepard act is on its way to the Senate, and it will be their turn to vote on whether or not this should go to the President.
You may say, “Well, this act is a good thing! That should be no problem.” In reality, it has taken 10 long years for this Act to get this far. Many times, there would be deal offers, like it would have a better chance of passing if they took out the ‘transgender’ part of it. Thankfully, the people that have been fighting from the beginning refused to not have an all-inclusive bill. And they are right.
If you, like many others, believe that it is time for a federal law to protect those that haven’t been protected in the past, please visit the HRC Action Center to contact your senators and urge them to pass the Matthew Shepard Act. President Obama has already pledged to sign it; all we need is the Senate to see the light and realize that this Act is long due on the President’s desk.
Please take some time and watch this video, it will not take more than two minutes, but it has a very powerful message from Matthew Shepard’s mother.
“Prove that love conquers hate”
Judy Shepard
Arletta
Permalink
I’ve sent notes off to both of our senators. Based on their voting history, I expect that there will be two yea votes on this issue.
bec
Permalink
i dont think the us needs a hate crimes law all laws are enforced in us if a person kills a person no matter the motive he and she usally goes to jail a law like this provokes hate
Marie
Permalink
Thank you for this post. It makes me so happy to see that the HPA keeps track of so many issues affecting the LGBT community… And what an appropriate post for May 1 – Beltane!
Tita
Permalink
Bec,
How does a law that better protect people provokes hate? It’s not a hate-crimes law. It’s an ANTI-hate crimes law that would (and I quote the HRC here):
“The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act / Matthew Shepard Act gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence by providing the department with jurisdiction over crimes of violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.”
I personally find it to be a good thing. Did you know that a mentally disabled person was taken to a party, ridiculed and then beaten because he was disabled? Or did you know that thousands of people are beaten (and sometimes even killed) because they are transgendered or gay?
As a queer person, who was a victim of a hate crime, I pray that this Act will pass. It is high time for people to pay, not only for hurting others, but for doing it based on something they have no control over.