VICTORIES: Hate Crimes and Housing

The Senate, by a to vote, just passed the Defense Authorization Act, which includes the The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, by a vote of 68 to 29. The bill now moves to President Obama's desk for his signature. Once signed, this will be the first federal law to protect transgender people. This bill marks the first positive mention of transgender people in federal law. Read NCTE's statement on the hate crimes bill.

Yesterday, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced proposed policies and a study that would address discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Read NCTE's statement on HUD's announcement.