Since 1991, more than 100,000 hate crimes have been committed, and in 2005, there were over 1,000 committed based on victims' sexual orientation. 

But, as this excerpt from the HRC states, we still have a long way to go: 

However, under current law, the federal government is not able to help in cases where women, gay, transgender or disabled Americans are victims of bias-motivated crimes for who they are.  [emphasis added] For example, in Texas, in July 2005, four men brutally assaulted a gay man. While punching and kicking him, whipping him with a vacuum chord and assaulting him with daggers, the offenders told the victim that they attacked him because he was gay. Two of the men were sentenced to six years in prison under a plea bargain that dropped the charges that could have sent them to prison for life. Under this bill, federal authorities would have had the jurisdiction to prosecute the crime or could have provided local authorities resources that might have assisted them in pursuing a longer sentence.

There's no better way to let you know about the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Prevention Act (H.R. 1592) than to redirect you to LCCR's quick rundown about this key legislation that is being decided *today.* 

 
So, pull out that cell phone and call: 202-224-3121 and let your Representative know that you want to protect the civil rights of all Americans. 

(And if you need something to get you riled up enough to take action... check out this infuriating page from the Traditional Values Coalition)