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This bill seeks to do a better job of including the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community in the protections granted by federal hate crime laws.

H.R. 442 aims to do so by removing a current requirement that defines hate crimes as acts that:

\t• involve interstate travel on the part of the perpetrator or the defendant;

\t• involve a weapon;

\t• interfere with interstate commerce.

In this context, hate crimes are acts (violent and otherwise discriminatory) leveraged against a person for their religion, disability, gender or sexuality — and this bill hopes to acknowledge that hate crimes can happen, even if they don't affect interstate commerce.

","official_title":"To amend title 18, United States Code, to extend the coverage of the Federal prohibition against hate crimes in order to provide greater protections to persons who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.","short_title":null,"popular_title":null,"short_summary":"Amends the federal criminal code to remove the requirement that a hate crime involve conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce.","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"A CBO cost estimate is unavailable. ","impact":"People in the LGBTQ community, law enforcement officials, the court and criminal justice systems, violent bigots and others who commit hate crimes. ","argument_for":"LGBTQ people are far more likely than any other minority group in the U.S. to be victimized by hate crimes — they need protection under the law. ","argument_against":"A hate crime is a serious allegation. 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Should The LGBTQ Community Have Better Protections Under The Federal Definition Of Hate Crimes?