Dear friend,

This afternoon, the US House passed legislation that adds sexual orientation and gender identity to existing hate crimes statutes. This is a major victory. Your calls and emails over the past few months made a difference. All three members of the West Virginia delegation voted in favor of the bill.

Lawmakers need to hear thanks for a job well done, too. Please call your member of Congress at 202-225-3121 and thank them for their support.

The Senate is expected to take up the bill soon, after which President Obama is expected to sign.

Wow. On the 11th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death, this victory is even more poignant. Law enforcement officials will now have the help they need to make sure hate crimes perpetrators are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Please call 202-225-3121 and thank your representative for their vote to protect LGBT people in West Virginia and across the country.

Thanks for all you do.

Stephen Skinner
President, Fairness West Virginia

P.S. Members of Fairness WV also made personal pleas face-to-face with Congressional staff to ask for their support of the hate crimes bill.