Pastors fear that the definition of "harassment" in the newly-passed law, will eventually be expanded to include speaking critically of homosexuality from the pulpit.

According to Becket Fund President Kevin J. Hasson, "Although legislators expressly disavowed the motive at the time, one might be forgiven the impression that one purpose of this legislation was to generate a fear of prosecution among those who would preach and teach in favor of the traditional prohibition on homosexual behavior—a teaching so common to so many faiths."

The Slippery Slope
Laws adding "sexual orientation" to hate crime laws or laws preventing so-called "discrimination" against homosexuals, have been used in other nations to persecute individuals for speaking out against homosexuality or criticizing other religions.

In Canada, for example, a recently-passed hate crimes law (C-250) criminalizes speech if it incites hatred against any identifiable group. This law added "sexual orientation" to its hate crime law and left this term undefined.

The New York Post reported on March 2, 2004, that the hate crimes unit of the NYPD had been sent to view Mel Gibson’s "The Passion of the Christ," to see if it violated any state regulations against inciting hatred against Jewish persons.

In Australia, a Pakistani pastor who criticized Islam, is being persecuted for violating that Victoria’s hate crime law against "vilifying" other religions.

In California, under former Governor Gray Davis’s administration, liberal school officials were pushing for the institution of thought crime patrols on junior high and high school campuses. These students or faculty members were to report any examples of "hate motivated incidents" that might be used against homosexuals. The individuals were to be punished for exercising freedom of speech on campus.

In England, an Anglican Bishop was under investigation for publicly suggesting that homosexuals needed to seek reparative therapy to overcome their same-sex attractions. The Bishop was to be charged under a hate crime statute.

These are only a few of many examples that would be cited of hate crime laws being used to stifle freedom of speech and religion around the world.

The recently-passed Kennedy/Smith hate crimes bill in the U.S. Senate is a building block that will be used by homosexual activists to expand the definition of what constitutes a hate crime. It will eventually be used to ban speech that is considered critical of homosexuals, bisexuals, cross-dressers, etc.

Read and distribute TVC’s report, "Hate Crime Legislation: Unequal Protection Under The Law." Distribute the Senate Republican Policy Committee reports on the dangers of hate crime laws. The Kennedy/Hate crimes bill has not yet been signed into law. It must be reconciled in a House version of the defense authorization bill after the July 4th recess.

There is still time to defeat this legislation by having it stripped from the joint House/Senate version. Please contact your Representative immediately and ask that he or she vote to strip out the Kennedy/Smith hate crime bill (Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act).

END