President Obama signs Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act: “I promised Judy Shepard this day would come”

Pass the tissues please.

I’m a lot verklempt after watching this video of President Barack Obama signing The Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act earler today in the Rose Garden of the White House.

I’ll try and collect myself and finish this post.

It means so much on so many different levels. It is a testament to a mother’s determination and love in the form of Judy Shepard who tirelessly championed legislation – despite so many disheartening setbacks – so that the hate crime murder 11 years ago of her gay son, Matthew Shepard, would not be in vein. It is a tribute to the memory of James Byrd who was tortured and murdered in a racial hate crime so brutal it is still so difficult to fathom.

It is also a wonderful tribute to the memory of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy who pushed for passage within the congress before his death.

“After more than a decade of opposition and delay, we’ve passed inclusive hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray, or who they are,” the president said in remarks prior to signing. “I promised Judy Shepard, when she saw me in the Oval Office, that this day would come, and I’m glad that she and her husband Dennis could join us for this event. I’m also honored to have the family of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, who fought so hard for this legislation. And Vicki and Patrick, Kara, everybody who’s here, I just want you all to know how proud we are of the work that Ted did to help this day — make this day possible. So — and thank you for joining us here today.

The hate crimes bill is part of the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. It allows for added charges and harsher jail sentences for those convicted of what is deemed to be a hate crime, a crime against somebody’s race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. It also means the federal government could step in to prosecute in states that request it or in those who choose not to prosecute.

Here is a statement from Judy Shepard:

“When Dennis and I started calling 10 years ago for federal action to prevent and properly prosecute hate crimes against gay, lesbian and transgendered Americans, we never imagined it would take this long,” said Judy Shepard, Matthew’s mother and the president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation Board of Directors.

“The legislation went through so many versions and so many votes that we had to constantly keep our hopes in check to keep from getting discouraged,” she continued. “But with President Obama’s support and the continually growing bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate lining up behind the bill this year, it became clear that 2009 was the year it would finally happen.”
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“We are incredibly grateful to Congress and the president for taking this step forward on behalf of hate crime victims and their families, especially given the continuing attacks on people simply for living their lives openly and honestly,” Shepard added. “But each of us can and must do much more to ensure true equality for all Americans.”