Press

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) today expressed grave concern over legislative attempts to gut the Montana hate crimes law, replacing it with one that would be unenforceable. Proponents of that bill measure are to blocking passage of another hate crimes bill that would add sexual orientation to Montana's existing hate crimes law.

"An effective hate crimes bill is one that includes all communities traditionally targeted for hate violence, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people," stated Kerry Lobel, NGLTF Executive Director. "Attempting to destroy the integrity of the entire law leaves vulnerable communities at risk. It is dangerous and irresponsible," she added.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) activists in Montana are organizing to defeat the bill that would replace the current malicious harassment law with a completely new law with only the broad and questionable categories of "dignity, employment, position, and status." Bill sponsor Senator Lorents Grosfield claims the change would broaden the scope of existing law to include sexual orientation. On the contrary, modification would make the law so vague as to be practically unenforceable. Montana organizers are supporting a measure to amend existing law to include sexual orientation. While that bill languishes, the contested bill is progressing.

In nearby Wyoming, an inclusive hate crimes bill is moving forward. It would provide enhanced penalties for crimes committed because of a person's race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry. The bill passed out of committee last week and the full House is expected to vote on the measure later this week.

According to NGLTF legislative tracking data, of the ten states attempting to pass hate crimes bills inclusive of sexual orientation in 1999, Wyoming is leading the pack. Hate crimes bills in the remaining eight states (CO, ID, IN, MS, NY, SC, TX, VA) remain under consideration. Currently 21 states and the District of Columbia have hate crimes laws that include sexual orientation. Nineteen states have laws that do not include sexual orientation.

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The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from the ground up. We do this by training activists, organizing broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and by building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy Institute, the movement’s premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge.