Obama to Reaffirm His Support for Gay Rights [View All]

Source: Washington Post

President Obama will tout the imminent passage of long-delayed hate crime legislation when he addresses the nation's largest gay rights group on Saturday, as he seeks to allay concerns among some in the community that he is moving too slowly to prove his commitment to their cause.

The House of Representatives on Thursday aproved a bill that would broaden the current definition of federal hate crimes to include attacks based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Final action in the Senate is expected next week.

Similar legislation languished for years under the weight of veto threats from former President George W. Bush and Republican opposition in the Congress. But Obama has said he will eagerly sign the bill that has become a centerpiece of the gay civil rights agenda.

"The president has articulated unwavering support for it and a desire to sign it," said Melody Barnes, the president's top domestic policy adviser. "This is all part of a theme of steady, forward progress on issues that have been supported by the community."


Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/10/AR2009101000627.html?hpid=topnews