Gay rights advocates are praising a measure to broaden protection for victims of hate crimes as a long-overdue expansion of civil rights.
A bill to revise the ethnic intimidation law was approved this week 82-18 by the state House, though four West Michigan representatives voted against it.
Under the bill, a person could be charged with a bias-related offense for a crime based on disability, sexual identity or expression.
The four? Meekhof, Green, Huizenga and Agema. You know, the ones we put in the minority for a reason. I mean, My God, even Hildenbrand decided to be on the right side of history here.
“Sometimes leadership is planting trees under whose shade you’ll never sit,” she said. “It may not happen fully till after I’m gone. But I know that the steps we’re taking are the right steps.”
Damn straight. The things we do today, like bringing in the alternative energy industry, will bear fruit tomorrow. Watch and see. And thank you, governor, for planting them. I'll remember who started us down the right road.
I would hope anyway.