The Federal Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (H.R. 1913) passed the U.S. House on April 29, 2009 by a vote of 249 to 175. The bill expands 1969 federal hate crime laws to include sexual orientation, gender expression or identity and disability. Previous hate crime laws gave the Justice Department authority to prosecute crimes motivated only by race, color, national origin and religion.

Race-based hate crimes leading up to the civil rights movement prompted federal legislation to help deter and prevent such acts. However, these law enforcement "definitions" of what makes a crime a hate crime have not been expanded since 1968. The need for the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in hate crime legislation has become more apparent given the continual increase in LGBT-biased violence.

Including sexual orientation and gender expression into federal hate crime legislation would allow the Justice Department to assist with the investigation of state and local hate based offenses. Federal assistance alleviates overburdened and under funded local law enforcement officials, better enabling them to solve crimes based on sexual orientation and gender expression violence.

While all crimes are an affront to society, offenses rooted in animus toward a victim's real or perceived characteristics are especially pernicious. The fear of crime becomes an extra burden for members of these groups, who can feel that they are being hunted.  That is why it is imperative to bring perpetrators to justice, and for leaders and citizens to make clear that violence motivated by hate will not be tolerated.

It is time for the US Senate to step up to the plate and follow through on important legislation tailored to protect LGBT American citizens.