Hate Crime Bill Clears Senate

The U.S. Senate has cleared a path for legislation that will extend special hate crimes protections to gays and lesbians, reports CNN.

The House has passed a measure that would make it a federal crime to assault an individual based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It will go to President Obama's desk if, as expected, it clears the Senate.

Republicans complained that the measure has no place in a $680 billion defense budget bill. But in a vote of 64-35, the Senate voted to end debate and move onto final consideration of the legislation.

The bill is named for Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming teen who died after being kidnapped and severely beaten in October 1998.

Several religious groups have expressed concern that a hate-crimes law could be used to criminalize conservative speech relating to subjects such as abortion or homosexuality.

Earlier this month Obama briefly addressed gay and lesbian issues at Human Rights Campaign.

"Despite the progress we've made, there are still laws to change and hearts to open," he said during his address at the dinner for the HRC. "This fight continues now, and I'm here with the simple message: I'm here with you in that fight."

The FBI between 1998 and 2007 reported more than 77,000 hate-crime incidents. The FBI reported 7,624 hate-crime incidents in 2007, the most current year with complete data.

Obama has called for the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," the ban on gays serving openly in the military. He also has urged Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and pass the Domestic Partners Benefit and Obligations Act.