Congress Approves Law Extending Hate Crime Protections to Gays

Senate Democrats used a must-pass military spending bill to push through a controversial measure Thursday extending hate-crime protection to gays. The bill, known as the Matthew Shepard Act, named for the gay Wyoming college student murdered 11 years ago, was opposed by conservatives because of language they said targets clergy and others who oppose homosexuality on religious grounds and who might express those beliefs publicly. "The inclusion of the controversial language of the hate crimes legislation, which is unrelated to our national defense, is deeply troubling," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala..........

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