National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010

From the Washington Post: "When a gay Wyoming college student was slain in 1998, congressional Democrats pledged to broaden the definition of federal hate crimes by the end of that year to include attacks based on sexual orientation.

"The effort instead turned into a decade-long proxy war between liberal groups that want to expand gay rights and conservative groups that do not. But Wednesday, President Obama signed the bill and then hosted a White House reception for gay activists and the parents of the slain student, 21-year-old Matthew Shepard."

The President signed Public Law 111-84, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, on Wednesday, October 28. His statement upon signing the bill is posted on the White House website. The full text of the law is available on THOMAS and will be available on GPO Access soon. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is incorporated in the bill in Division E.

Source: Bacon, P., Jr. (29 Oct. 2009). "After 10-year dispute, expansion of hate crimes law to gays signed: Move may help Obama quell rising discontent from rights groups." Washington Post.
Drew, C. (28 Oct. 2009). "Victory for Obama Over Military Lobby." New York Times.