Oklahoma state senators yesterday voted overwhelmingly to block federal law enforcement officials from investigating hate crimes in the state. The move is a reaction to enactment of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, passed by Congress last year, which added sexual orientation, gender identity and disability to existing federal hate crimes statutes.

“We just don’t want the pendulum to swing too far the other way,” said Sen. Steve Russell (R-Oklahoma City), according to the Oklahoman. ”This protects people to do or say whatever they want, as long as it complies with local ordinances.”

But Sen. John Sparks (D-Norman) said the measure, which must be approved now by the State House, could put local district attorneys in a bind.  ”They could be guilty of obstruction of justice if the federal government requests evidence and they don’t turn it over. This language has all sorts of ramifications,” Sparks told the Oklahoman.

Via Dallas Voice/Istant Tea

Congress has approved the first-ever federal law aimed at protecting LGBT Americans.  The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which adds sexual orientation and gender identity to existing federal hate crimes laws, passed today as part of a defense authorization bill.  The legislation now heads to the White House, where President Obama has pledged to sign it.

In the House, where the bill passed earlier, openly gay and lesbian members defended the measure on the floor.  There are no openly LGBT U.S. Senators, but the issue was long championed by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.

“Our community has long sought this tool to help protect vulnerable Americans from hate-fueled violent attacks.  I’m proud that the openly gay and lesbian members of Congress were there to add their voices to the debate and to speak authentically about the experience of gay and transgender Americans.  I congratulate Judy and Dennis Shepard, who have lobbied so long and so hard for this law, and I thank our colleagues at the Human Rights Campaign and all who contributed to this tremendous victory,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

Rep. Tammy Baldwin posted a YouTube podcast to commemorate the passage of the Matthew Shepard Act and urging quick, decisive action in order to get it to the President’s desk.

Last night the Matthew Shepard Act, which would add sexual orientation to federal hate crimes laws, faced an attack in the U.S. House by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas).

According to the Hill, Gohmert claimed the bill “held our soldiers hostage” and that victims’ families should instead “choose the vehicle and the rope or chains by which they’re going to drag the defendant to his death,” a sly way of implying that it is the victims’ families who are perpetrating the real hate crimes.  Not surprisingly, Gohmert finished his remarks with a reference to bestiality.

Out Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Barney Frank (D-Mass.) rose to defend the bill.