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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2007)
16 JUStjOUt APRIL ¿fl, national JOEL HAMLEY Broker, ABR The Real in Realtor NATIONAL Anti-Hate Crime Bill Introduced Scenl #65 U.S. Sens. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and Gordon Smith, R-Ore., introduced the bipartisan Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act on April 12. The Senate bill would strengthen the ability of law enforcement officials to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violent crimes and is identical to a bill in the House of Representatives that was intro duced in March by U.S. Reps. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., and Mark Kirk, R-III. According to polls, this legislation is strongly supported by a majority of Always a Happy Ending Office: 503-238-1700, ext. 630 Mobile: 971-506-9499 joelhamley@meadowsgroup.coni ISfl-NTIAI /«•//«•H.» t I ■ <• t ......... »I I www.JoelHamley.com f I 3638 SE Hawthorne 503.236.7976 www.escentialonline.com Americans. According to a new poll conducted by Peter Hart Research Associates, three in four voters, 73 per cent, favor strengthening hate crimes laws U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, R-0re., introduced an anti-hate to include sexual orientation and gender crime bill with U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. identity and to give local law enforce ment the tools they need to prevent and prosecute COLORADO these violent acts based on bigotry. Second-Parent Adoption Passes in Senate Moreover, large majorities of every major group of the electorate—including such traditionally con Despite objection from some lawmakers, a meas servative groups as Republican men, 56 percent, ure allowing gay couples to adopt won the Colorado and evangelical Christians, 63 percent—expressed Senate’s approval April 11. support for strengthening hate crimes laws to A critical state Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, include sexual orientation and gender identity. said the second-parent adoption bill was a ploy to Support also crosses racial lines—with three in four advance the “homosexual agenda.” The bill, whites, 74 percent, African Americans, 74 percent, however, was approved on a party-line vote, with and Latinos, 72 percent, supporting the bill. Democrats arguing that the bill protects non- The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes traditional families. Prevention Act has previously passed both houses The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Jennifer Veiga, of Congress, and more than 210 law enforcement, D-Denver, argued that same-sex couples and their civil rights, civic and religious organizations relatives already have a difficult time getting support the passage of this piece of legislation. government benefits, including health coverage, to children they’re raising because of the state’s strict CALIFORNIA adoption law, which only allows married couples or Marriage Bill Advances single parents to adopt. She insisted this is a sepa in Committee rate issue from the more controversial marriage California’s same-sex marriage bill cleared equality debate. legislative committee April 10, but the future of Assembly Rill 43 remains tenuous, with the gover CONNECTICUT nor likely to veto. Marriage Bill Sees Gains Although many, like Assemblyman Mark Leno, After a lengthily and emotional debate April 13, D-San Francisco, view the bill as a civil rights issue the Connecticut House Judiciary Committee voted that can no longer be ignored, others see it as an 27-15 in favor of same-sex marriage. attempt to redefine marriage against the will of California voters, who approved a same- sex marriage ban in 2000. The Assembly Judiciary Committee, however, sided with Leno, voting along party lines with seven Democrats in favor and three Republicans opposed. The bill now moves on to the Appropriations Committee, chaired by Leno. Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed an identical measure last year, stating that voters had already spoken on this issue in 2000. His spokesman, however, said April 10 that he has not taken a posi tion on AB 43. In a show of support from both houses, 41 lawmakers have signed on as co-authors of the bill, and polls show an increased • openness toward marriage equality from Californians, according to Leno. Critics, however, insist that it is unconstitutional to overturn laws enacted by voters, such as is unclear whether Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell will Proposition 22, the same-sex marriage ban. veto the state's proposed marriage bill.
