Matthew Shepard Act Passes

Yesterday marked a very special – and long awaited – moment in our nation’s history. Having founded herself upon “liberty and justice for all,” America’s commitment to providing said liberty and justice was made a bit more possible yesterday as the Matthew Shepard Act was signed into law

President Obama yesterday signed a landmark piece of legislation, dubbed the Matthew Shepard Act, which among other things adds sexual orientation to the list of federally protected hate crimes. Essentially this means that if a hate crime is committed against an individual or against a group of individuals – being defined as a crime motivated by a hatred or prejudice against a particular group of people intended to inflict damage or insecurity to the well-being of that group – federal funding and other legal resources can be allocated to the state in which the crime took place to fully prosecute the individual or individuals who perpetrated the act(s).

The bill was named after Matthew Shepard, a 21 year old gay man who, in 1998, was beaten, tortured and murdered because of his sexual orientation in Laramie, Wyoming. The two men who were responsible for Matthew’s murder were not charged for committing a hate crime because, at the time, sexual orientation was not covered under the federal hate crime law.

A big part of the debate came from right-wing politicians who argued that a crime “motivated by hate” was no different than any other crime – but I solemnly disagree. In my opinion, crimes that are motivated by the hatred of a particular group of people do much more than harm the victim, but harm entire communities. Hate crimes attack the core of a person’s identity, which often send a message of intolerance and raging hatred toward members of the group of that victim. They can make people scared to leave their homes, and can often destroy an entire community’s sense of security and personal safety. They inflict deep emotional damage that is often irreversible.

The fact that the Matthew Shepard Act finally passed through Congress – and was signed on our president’s desk – is very special. A new chapter in our nation’s history is being written – by all of us – and will usher in a new generation of tolerance and understanding. Seeing as how America’s executive branch has made such a paradigm shift from the previous administration’s position on equality and justice for all, can there be hope for more enlightened change? I believe the answer is yes.

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is the very first piece of legislation that needs adjustment America’s battle against inequality – in a word, it needs to be killed. Firing talented servicemen and servicewomen for who they love, despite their often rare and extremely sought-after abilities (such as middle eastern linguists, among others) is downright shameful. These men and women, who have such an enduring commitment to America as to join the armed forces, should be celebrated and appreciated – but instead we currently shun them for differences from the majority, differences that bear no significance in his or her ability to serve.

Change has come, and it will continue to come – but we must stay vigilant and headstrong. Anything worth fighting for is never easy, and America’s commitment to freedom, justice and equality can only grow as the next generation’s embracement of diversity prevails.