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Congressman Jared Polis hailed the passage yesterday of legislation that would expand federal hate crime laws.

The openly gay Democratic congressman from Boulder said last week’s conviction of a Greeley man who murdered a transgender woman is proof that there needs to be an expansion of federal hate crimes legislation.

“The recent conviction of Angie Zapata’s killer under Colorado’s hate crimes law demonstrates exactly why we need strong federal hate crimes legislation,” said Polis, who was one of the original cosponsors of the legislation. “Hate crimes are not limited to the GLBT community — they occur every day, in every state, and perpetuate a climate of fear in minority communities.”

On a vote of 249-175, the House passed and sent to the Senate a bill backed by the new Democratic White House to broaden such laws by classifying as hate crimes those attacks based on a victim’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or mental or physical disability.

The current law, enacted four decades ago, limits federal jurisdiction over hate crimes to assaults based on race, color, religion or national origin.

The bill would lift a requirement that a victim had to be attacked while engaged in a federally protected activity, like attending school, for it to be a federal hate crime.

Allen Andrade was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Zapata. In addition to first-degree murder, he was convicted of a hate crime in the vicious and deadly beating of Zapata. It was the first time in the nation that a state hate crime statute resulted in a conviction of a transgender person’s murder.

Democratic lawmakers from Colorado supported the measure yesterday, while Congressman Doug Lamborn, a Republican from Colorado Springs, voted against the measure.

“Our laws criminalize actions, not thoughts or beliefs,” said Lamborn. “Criminalizing thoughts sets a dangerous precedent. It turns government into thought police.”

Lamborn also expressed concerns that the measure would limit free speech.

Former Republican President George W. Bush had helped stop such a bill in the last Congress, arguing existing state and federal laws were adequate. But President Obama asked Congress to send it to him to sign into law.

Conviction of a hate crime carries stepped-up punishment, above and beyond that meted out for the attack. The bill would allow the federal government to help state and local authorities investigate hate crimes.

Congressman Ed Perlmutter, D-Lakewood, said he “proudly” voted for the legislation.

“Hate crimes have no place in our communities,” he said. “Passage of this legislation sends an important message that Americans will not abide by such violent acts and treatment of others just because of who they are.”

Congresswoman Diana DeGette, D-Denver, echoed similar thoughts.

“Everyone in this country deserves to pursue the American dream free from intimidation and persecution,” said DeGette, who is vice-chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus and co-sponsor of the measure. “Every hate crime is an attack on the liberty and equality valued by every American.”

Polis added that hate crimes are not simply crimes against one individual. 

“They are crimes against entire communities and the very values and ideals upon which our country was founded,” he said. “This legislation makes a clear statement that our country has zero tolerance for hate crimes.”

Reuters contributed to this story

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