Clergy gather in D.C. to lobby for gay rights - Gene Robinson and 300 others...

Clergy gather in D.C. to lobby for gay rights
By BRIAN WESTLEY
Associated Press Writer



WASHINGTON (AP) - Months after giving an invocation at a kickoff event for President Barack Obama's inauguration, the U.S. Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop returned to Washington on Monday to persuade Congress to pass an expanded hate crimes bill.

V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire is among more than 300 clergy members from different faiths who planned to spend Tuesday lobbying on Capitol Hill for support of a bill that broadens the definition of hate crimes to include those motivated by a person's sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. The House passed the legislation 249-175 last week over conservatives' objections.

A weaker bill died two years ago under a veto threat from President George W. Bush. In contrast, Obama is urging the Senate to support it, saying it would enhance civil rights protections.

Current law only permits federal prosecutions against crimes based on race, religion, color or national origin _ and only when the victims are engaged in federally protected activity such as voting. The bill aroused the ire of conservative religious groups and pastors. Several Republicans argued those leaders could face criminal charges for speaking out against homosexuality or, at the very least, would be reluctant to state their views.

Clergy members on Tuesday also plan to push for legislation providing protections against workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

"They're not here to grind political axes," said Harry Knox of the Human Rights Campaign, which is sponsoring the event. "They're here out of a pastoral concern for real people in their congregations who have to deal with the ramifications of hate violence."

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A weaker bill died two years ago under a veto threat from President George W. Bush. In contrast, Obama is urging the Senate to support it, saying it would enhance civil rights protections.


They didn't even support a weaker bill? Disgusting!