we remember steven jobs and matthew shepard and so many others. do you agree that this hate crimes prevention act that we had pending for sometime is a good tool for investigators and prosecutors? >> absolutely, mr. chairman. if there was ever a doubt about the need for this legislation i think that has been pretty much done away with the events we have seen in our nation here in washington, d.c., what we saw in kansas and what we saw in arkansas as well. also, if you look at the statistics that indicates there has been a rise in hate crimes over the last few years, particularly troubled by the amount of hate crime violence that's been directed at latinos. 10 years ago i testified in favor of this bill which is i think limited in its scope but rational in what it is trying to do. it expands the scope of the federal hate crimes legislation to include gender, disability, sexual orientation and does away with what i believe are unnecessary jurisdictional requirements and would allow the federal government to assist state and local counterparts in pro

knew how vulnerable they were in the began to get scared especially hearing stories about the matthew shepard beating, they're moving back to their homes in louisiana and colorado. it is one thing to be out an active as an activist and los angeles, but when you are a boy in louisiana is different. many of them said to heck with it, i am an activist and will not turn my back on my past and we're glad i was using their real names to tell their story but one individual which was one pseudonym i call antonio sanchez. when i first contacted tony probably three or four years ago now, he was very receptive and tried to know that his story was being told and we had an amazing conversation but then i talked to him a week later after the first conversation and he said i'm glad you are recording my story but i have to let you know when i realize you're putting my name on the web and broadcasting and publishing it in books and papers i had motion sensors installed in my house and i bought a gun. i really hope is my real name. in the other activists and away thought tony was betraying his past, that h

shepard are here today. i assured her and all of you that we are going to pass an exclusive hate crimes bill into law, one named for their son matthew. [applause] in addition, my administration is committed to be sending the discriminatory ban into the head states based on hiv status. -- into the united states based on the hiv status. the office of management and budget just reviewed a proposal, which is a first and very big step to ending this policy. we all know that hiv aids continues to be a threat in many communities, including right here in the district of columbia. i was proud once again to encourage all americans to know their status and get at it -- to get there -- to know their status and get tested. [applause] finally, i want to say a word about don't ask, don't tell. as i have said before, and i will say it again, i believe don't ask, don't tell does not contribute to our national security. i believe preventing patriotic americans from serving their country weakens our national security. [applause] my administration is already working with the pentagon and members of the house and senate about how we will go about ending

i do not want to see another year go by without the matthew shepard local law enforcement act as a law of the land. we must not stop there. far too many gay and lesbian americans face not just violence but other forms of discrimination in their daily livesment -- lives. we are fortunate to have laws on our books that protect citizens from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. i believe that those equal protections should be federal laws, and i'm also prou a proud cosponsor of the employment nondiscrimination act. it is the fair thing to do and it is the right thing to do, and it is far overdue, mr. preside mr. president. passing enda is not end all forms of discrimination. one of the worst forms of discrimination is not only destroying people's career and lives, it is undermining our national security. mr. president, i'm talking about the military's don't ask/don't tell policy. for all of those who've served, to those currently serving in our armed forces, let us say thank you -- thank you -- to those who have served. we honor your service, we honor your sacrif