Washington, DC – Traditional Values Coalition has just published "Hate Crime Legislation: Unequal Treatment Under The Law," a report that details the danger and injustice of hate crime legislation.

"Hate crime laws violate freedom of speech, religion, and criminalize thought," said TVC Executive Director Andrea Lafferty today. "Hate crime laws are being used by homosexual activists to punish any person who has the courage to speak out against the recruitment of children by homosexuals."

The report exposes the myth that the United States is experiencing an epidemic of hate crimes--and shows that hate crime laws create a system of unequal justice under the law. "A special interest group that can claim victim status under hate crime laws can punish not only actions, but speech and thought under these laws," said Lafferty. "A person who criticizes homosexual behavior should not have to fear being punished for his views."

Lafferty expressed concern over the "hate crime" provisions in S. 1, the education bill that is currently being debated in the U.S. Senate. "S. 1 will continue the funding of hate crime/anti-Christian bigotry curricula for public schools. School officials will continue targeting children who are critical of homosexual behavior," Lafferty noted.

This bill also contains so-called "safe school" provisions that will further promote homosexuality under the guise of protecting homosexual students. This legislation will punish the thought and speech of students who may oppose homosexuality on moral grounds. Lafferty urges the Senate to strip all hate crime language from S. 1. "President Bush must veto S. 1 if any hate crime language is included and if there are no protections against anti-Christian bigotry," said Lafferty.

TVC is urging concerned citizens to sign two petitions against S. 1. One is urging that all references to hate crimes be stripped from the bill (www.conservativepetitions.com/petition.html?name=S_1_hate_crimes); the other urges that President Bush veto S. 1 if it contains hate crime language (www.conservativepetitions.com/petition.html?name=veto_senate_bill_1.

TVC's report also details the dangers of Senator Tom Daschle's bill, S. 19, the "Protecting Civil Rights of All Americans Act," which contains numerous hate crime provisions. "S. 19 will provide special legal protections for homosexuals and will make criticism of homosexual behavior a federal offense," said Lafferty. "S. 19 includes the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that will allow homosexuals to sue their employers or co-workers if they feel intimidated by criticism of their behavior. This 'Thought Police' bill must be defeated." "Hate Crime Legislation: Unequal Treatment Under the Law," is available on TVC's web site at: www.traditionalvalues.org/TVCSpecialReportHateCrimes.PDF.

Traditional Values Coalition is an inter-denominational public policy organization comprising over 43,000 member churches. For more information call Christy Moore at (202) 547-8570. TVC, 139 C Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003. Web address: www.traditionalvalues.org.