Local News

We've received word that the House will vote on the Matthew Shepard Act very soon and we know that right-wing groups are flooding Congress with calls, emails and sickening ‘fact sheets’ full of lies about the lives of LGBT Americans. We need more calls to Members of Congress, and we need them right away. It has been ten long years and tens of thousands more victims since the Matthew Shepard Act was first introduced in Congress. We are poised for a presidential signature this year but lies from the radical right could easily derail our efforts. We must not allow them to continue to demagogue and distort the truth.

We ask you to call Congress in support of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a bill which would provide local police and sheriff’s departments with
federal resources to combat hate violence. After more than a decade of lobbying on Capitol Hill and
seven successful votes on the bill, this critical piece of legislation is again expected to see a vote in the House this week. The call-in campaign is set for April 27-29.

It takes about 45 seconds. Members of the community are urged to call 202-224-3121.
Callers are urged to tell the Member’s office:

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• Hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are on the rise.
• One out of every six hate crimes is because of the victim's sexual orientation.
• Hate crimes have more than one victim.They are intended to create an atmosphere of fear and terrorize entire communities.
• The Matthew Shepard Act targets onlyviolent acts –not speech.
• It does not tell any clergy member what he or she can or can't preach.