Obama
Signs Hate Bill Covering Gays
WASHINGTON
(CN) - Members of the gay community applauded Obama Wednesday when he broadened the definition of a hate crime to include
crimes based on sexual orientation. "No one in America should ever be afraid to walk down
the street holding the hands of the person they love," Obama said after signing the bill. "No one in America should
be forced to look over their shoulder because of who they are or because they live with a disability."
Crimes based on sexual orientation joined crimes based on race, color, religion, and national origin,
as being considered hate crimes.
"As a nation we've
come far on the journey towards a more perfect union. And today, we've taken another step forward."
Efforts
to impose such a protection to the gay community began more than a decade ago.
"Over
the sounds of hatred and chaos, over the din of grief and anger, we can still hear those ideals, even when they are faint,"
Obama said. "At our best we seek to make sure those ideals can be heard and felt by Americans everywhere."
