Obama to sign defense bill, hate crime legislation

[The Straight Story]

Obama to sign defense bill, hate crime legislation

The White House just announced that President Obama will hold two White House ceremonies tomorrow on the new defense authorization bill.

After a signing ceremony for the $680 billion defense spending plan, Obama hosts a second event on a new law attached to that bill: The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

The act makes it a federal crime to assault someone because of their sexual orientation, disability or gender identity. It is named for the victims of two horrific crimes in 1998: Matthew Shepard, a gay teenager from Wyoming who was beaten to death; and James Byrd. Jr., a black man from Texas who was tied to a pick-up track and dragged to death.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and members of Congress will attend the signing ceremony; Attorney General Eric Holder and civil rights leaders will join Obama for the second event.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/10/620000517/1