The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that one conservative Christian activist says protects bizarre sexual orientations and threatens the free speech of those who dare speak out publicly against homosexuality.
By a 249-to-175 vote, the House passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act today. Among other things, the bill would add gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation to the list of protected categories under federal hate crimes law. A companion bill, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, has already been introduced in the Senate. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer claims the legislation "does not affect free speech or punish beliefs or thoughts. It only seeks to punish violent acts." But Andrea Lafferty, executive director of the Traditional Values Coalition, says Hoyer is ignoring the case of eleven Christians in Philadelphia who were charged with hate crimes for sharing Scripture verses at a homosexual pride rally. "Ask the Philadelphia 11. We know what these supposed 'hate crime' laws are meant to do. In Philadelphia, Christians were arrested and jailed based on hate crime law," she points out. "So we know that what the other side is saying -- that it will not affect pastors or youth pastors or Christians -- we know that is not true." Under the hate crimes bill, Lafferty contends a pastor who delivers a sermon denouncing homosexuality or transgenderism could potentially be prosecuted for hate speech.
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