Planned Parenthood Applauds President Obama for Signing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014
Planned Parenthood Federation of America today applauded President Obama for signing into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
The legislation expands current federal hate crimes law to include violence based on a victim's gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It also strengthens existing hate crimes laws for a variety of other categories, including race, color, religion, national origin and ethnicity.
“We applaud President Obama for standing up for victims of hate crimes and expanding protections to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) community,” said Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “This bill sends a strong signal that violence of any kind, whether motivated by race, sexual orientation, religion or gender identity, has no place in a tolerant and diverse society.”
Local Planned Parenthood affiliates are active and involved with the LGBT community. As one of the nation’s leading providers of medically accurate sex education, Planned Parenthood works closely with the LGBT community on comprehensive sex education that teaches about abstinence as well as contraception, healthy communication about sex, body image, parent-teen communication and gender identity, responsible decision making, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. In addition, local Planned Parenthood affiliates work with local LGBT groups to develop education and awareness programs, and several Planned Parenthood health centers host LGBT youth groups. As a trusted reproductive health care provider, Planned Parenthood is on the frontlines providing basic, preventive care to millions of women, men and families, including LGBT patients.
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.