Montgomery, AL – The Alabama House Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that would add crimes against people because of their sexual orientation to the state hate crimes law.
The committee approved the bill Wednesday on a voice vote with no debate.
The bill by Rep. Alvin Holmes, a Democrat from Montgomery, passed the House on a 46-44 vote last year, but died when it did not come up for a vote in the Senate on the final day of the session.
Holmes said the state's current hate crimes law, passed in 1994, includes crimes against people for race, color, religion and national origin, but left out sexual orientation.
Republican lawmakers have mostly opposed the bill, saying it makes an assault on certain people worse that an attack on others.
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