Oklahoma's controversial hate crimes exclusion bill that was proposed by extreme anti-gay State Senator Steve Russell, which
passed the Senate 39-6 and sought to exempt the state from the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, dies in a House committee. One of the leaders of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus personally took charge of "the bill to kill it", reports Tulsa World.
"Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, became the House author of Senate Bill 1965, by Sen. Steven Russell, R-Oklahoma City. Shelton said he took control of the bill to kill it and asked that the bill not get heard in the House Judiciary Committee. Russell said he had substantially rewritten the bill from its original version. Under the new language, if local law enforcement objected to turning information over to the federal government in a hate-crimes investigation, federal authorities would have to file a petition in court showing good cause why they needed the information, Russell said...Shelton said SB 1965 would have prohibited Oklahoma law enforcement agencies from cooperating with any federal agency in the investigation of a federal hate crime. But Russell said his bill had been misinterpreted. He said he was concerned that pastors who preached against homosexuality could be prosecuted if someone, as a result, took action against a gay person. 'In my view, this is not the end of it,' Russell said. 'We need protections in state law.' Speech needs to be protected unless it is directly related to a crime, he said."
Shelton is one of the vice-chairs of the legislature's black caucus. Shelton and fellow black legislators made national news two weeks ago when they called out a white, anti-gay Republican state senator for remarks about President Obama and fried chicken during a debate on the landmark health care reform legislation.
In related news: A 24-year-old Tulsa-area man has been harassed, attacked, robbed and beaten by neighbors because he is gay. He was even punched in the face while taking out the trash. More at Towleroad ...
wow, didn't even know this man was black. thanks a million for pointing it out, but of course you would. always like to hear when blacks are helping fight for gay rights ... and when we fight against it
Posted by: Dallas Cowboy | 06 April 2010 at 10:53
Wow, most likely somebody involved in the politics (Republican party) did the murder. We all know how this country works so this poor fellow possibly may have been targeted as a scapegoat or a whipping boy. Only in America.
LMAO at these bigoted, hypocritical pastors worrying about their precious "freedom of speech" being hindered by the bill. All the jiber-jaber they do about a SELECT group with their SELECTIVE views to make their bigoted audience feel morally superior and better about themselves. They present themselves as spokeperson's for their brainless sheep but when someone from the flock does something based on their words, these Christan cowards show their trule colors and don't want any responsiblity. My, how White and "moral".
Maybe because it reflects how loud mouth, hypocritical, and bigoted Christians really are. And no, it's not just some but a damn majority of them.
Posted by: Kevin Perez | 06 April 2010 at 11:17