Dear Thomas,

The Obama administration has signaled that it plans to secure passage of S.909, the "Hate Crimes" bill, this week. The House has already passed and the Senate is expected to vote this week on legislation that would create a new class of crimes based on the victim's "actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity." Even more troubling is that S.909 could create special protections for pedophiles. Democrats voted down an amendment to the bill that would have excluded pedophilia and other "sexual orientations" from the definition of "sexual orientation."

"If a mother hears that their child has been raped, and she slaps the assailant with her purse, she is now gone after as a hate criminal because this is a protected class," said Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas.

 For years, AFA and other pro-family groups have issued warnings about federal Hate Crimes legislation. The reality is that the purpose of this bill is to silence those who speak out against homosexuality. If the legislation passes, pastors could be prosecuted under the federal inducement statute for preaching the biblical view of homosexuality. For example, a person could commit an act of violence against a homosexual individual and blame it on the pastor's sermon. Similar laws have been used to prosecute religious speech in the U.S. at the state level and abroad.

The Senate is poised to pass S. 909, the "Hate Crimes" bill, unless there are an overwhelming number of phone calls today.