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ACTION ALERT - HATE CRIMES BILL NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

Demand Comprehensive Federal Hate Crimes Legislation Now

Congress could vote as early as next week on the hate crimes bill that would give LGBT people the protections they need and deserve. It is time to contact your representative again and urge them to vote yes on the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (H.R. 1913).

To weigh in and voice your support, send the message below. Take the time to personalize your message and let your Representative know how important this legislation is to your community. Then, ask your friends, neighbors and family members to email and express their support too.

We know you share our outrage that more than 1,000 hate crimes against LGBT Americans are reported to the FBI each year! It's an outrage that with the deaths of Matthew Shephard, Angie Zapata and so many others, Congress has still not passed federal legislation to help law enforcement properly prosecute these crimes. That's why it's time to take a stand today.

Join CenterLink in calling on Congress to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009.

The time has come to pass this long overdue law.

https://secure3.convio.net/center/site/ ... x1.app303b

Here's the PFLAG version:

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Let Your Representatives Know You Support Hate Crimes Legislation!


Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee debated amendments to the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act - H.R. 1913. Fortunately, amendments that would have stripped the bill of its meaning and power were defeated, but we still have a battle before us in the coming weeks. As you know, the bill would give the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence by providing the department with jurisdiction over crimes of violence where the victim is chosen because of their actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

When introducing the bill, Representative Conyers stated that the legislation "provides a constructive and measured response to a problem that continues to plague our nation. These are crimes that shock and shame our national conscience. They should be subject to comprehensive federal law enforcement assistance and prosecution."

Write your Representative today and share your support!

Representatives need to know you support HR 1913 as they plan to vote on the bill. We urge you to email them now and encourage them to support this critical legislation as they prepare to vote. Our opposition continues to barrage representatives with messages of fear and hate - please take advantage of this time to reach out to their representatives and show your support.

http://capwiz.com/pflag/issues/alert/?a ... 6&queueid

I called Rep. Jeb Hensarling'l office last week to encourage Hensarling to vote for the Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Bill. The phone was answered by a friendly young man named John. I said, "good morning, John, I'm Gerry Phifer and I've called today to encourage Rep. Hensarling to vote for the Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Bill. I am a member of Equality Texas and would like to tell you why this is important to me - Joe Solomenese had sent out an email with suggestions to give Rep Hensarling's office as to why this is so important - before I could go through the list, John said, " Wait, let me save you some time"...........and promptly gave me the reasons Joe had suggested. I was furious at this and told him, " how dare you talk to me this way. I am your boss and you work for me and so does Jeb Hensarling. You are FIRED!!! And so is Jeb Hensarling !! You aren't allowed to speak to me in such a condescending manner. Clock out.............you are fired." I hung up. Probably wasn't the best conversation I've ever had but it sure made me feel better..............especially when I got the news that it passed the House.

Bravo, Gerry!

Tom Preston

I know exactly how you feel!