UUA President Urges Senate to Pass the Matthew Shepard Act
July 16, 2007
Rev. William Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), called on the US Senate to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 1105), also known as The Matthew Shepard Act.
Sinkford’s statement reads as follows:
"The Matthew Shepard Act is about nothing more or less than full equality for all. Every person has inherent worth and dignity, and every person, regardless of ability, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity, deserves equal protection under the law. People of faith have a special reason to back this bill, as we believe our values will be known by how we treat the most vulnerable persons among us. In spite of what some detractors have tried to argue, there is nothing in this legislation that limits religious speech or any other form of expression. I join many religious leaders in calling upon the US Senate to pass the Matthew Shepard Act. Please act now to protect more Americans by recognizing acts of hate-fueled violence as federal crimes and by giving law enforcement officials the tools necessary to keep their communities safe."
The Matthew Shepard Act would update the current hate crimes statute, enacted in 1964, by including more Americans and providing increased protections for those groups already covered under existing law. The new legislation would recognize individuals targeted for violent crimes because of their gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
The Human Rights Campaign, along with a coalition of organizations that include the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Interfaith Alliance, and the Religious Action Center, recently released a letter from 1,385 faith leaders urging the Senate to pass the bill. The clergy represent a broad spectrum of faith groups. In addition to Sinkford, 213 Unitarian Universalist ministers signed the letter. The full text of the clergy letter is online at www.clergyagainsthate.org .
On Thursday, May 3, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives, passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1592), by a strong bipartisan margin of 237 to 180—with more than 20 Republicans voting in support. The identical Senate legislation is expected to be voted on shortly.
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The Unitarian Universalist Association is a faith community of more than 1000 self-governing congregations that bring to the world a vision of religious freedom, tolerance and social justice. For more information about the UUA and Rev. William Sinkford, please explore UUA.org.
Contact:
Janet Hayes
Public Relations Director
Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 948-4386
jhayes @ uua.org
Last updated on Saturday, April 19, 2008.
