September 26, 2007

Senate vote on the Matthew Shepard Act tomorrow – Call your Senators TODAY!

Many of us learned in the school yard that the context in which violence occurs matters. It matters a great deal. Therefore, it is extremely important to include language referring to LGBT people to hate crimes legislation. The US Senate will vote on the Matthew Shepard Act tomorrow (Sept 27). It's extremely urgent that you contact both of your US senators to let them know you want them to vote Yes on the Matthew Shepard Act (S. 1105).

By no means is this bill a shoe-in to win. Anti-LGBT groups are working hard to convince their political base that, among other things, the bill would punish pastors simply for reading certain parts of the Bible at a worship service. Of course this is false, but the effectiveness of such scare tactics is all too well known.

NOW is the time to add your support to the efforts of those working in behalf of LGBT people. Please call both your senators immediately.

1. If you know that your senator is a supporter of the bill, take a moment to thank her or him for supporting the Matthew Shepard Act, by calling the senator's office and telling the staffer who answers:
   
   As a constituent, I'd like to thank Sen. ____ for supporting the Matthew Shepard Act (S. 1105). I hope Sen. ____'s support for this important bill will continue.
    
2. For a senator whose position you don't know, or for one whom you know to be opposed, call the office and urge that he or she take a stand against hate and vote YES on the Matthew Shepard Act. You can tell the staffer who answers:
    
1. As a constituent – and a supporter of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people--I hope Sen. ____ will vote YES on the Matthew Shepard Act (S. 1105).
2. I hope Sen. ____ understands that this bill does NOT threaten free speech or weaken the Constitution.
3. This bill would only apply to violent attacks based on the victim's gender, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity.
4. It would also provide funding to help law enforcement agencies investigate and prosecute violent hate crimes.
5. This legislation has been endorsed by over 280 civic, religious, and law enforcement organizations.
6. I hope Sen. ____ will do the right thing and vote YES on S. 1105 when it comes to a vote.

Information about how to contact your US Senators can be found on the United States Senate website.

A sample email can be found at the Human Rights Campaign.

If you want to read the Senate bill, go to the Library of Congress.

Thank you for your witness.

Emily Eastwood
Executive Director
exec@lcna.org