clipped from blog.au.org

The Rev. Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition is swinging wildly as usual, dubbing the measure the “Pro-Homosexual/Drag Queen ‘Hate Crime’ Bill”.

In a March 28 alert, Sheldon blustered, “This so-called Hate Crimes Bill begins to lay the legal framework to persecute and prosecute those who refuse, for moral and religious reasons, to agree or teach their children that homosexuality, transgender, cross-dressing, etc is normal and desirable. Ultimately, a pastor’s sermon concerning homosexuality could be considered an incitement to violence and punished with a fine or prison.”

In fact, the bill, more formally known as the “Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Prevention Act of 2007,” authorizes the federal government to help local police departments prosecute violent crimes committed because the victim was a certain race, color, religion, ethnicity, gender, or because of his or her sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.