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JOEL HAMLEY
Broker, ABR
The Real in Realtor
NATIONAL
Anti-Hate Crime Bill
Introduced
Scenl
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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
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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.