Today (Wednesday 28) President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard Amendment – a bill that would expand the 1969 United States federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

Parents of gays and lesbians, teachers and activists carrying photos of hate crime murder victims including Harvey Milk and Matthew Shepard will demonstrate in front of the White House from noon to 2 p.m., prior to President Obama signing the Amendment.

The demonstration focuses national attention on the increase in gay hate crime murders and over 16,000 hate crimes committed against LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Americans since Matthew Shepard's death in 1998.

According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, in 2008 there were 29 hate crime murders of LGBT Americans. Since 1998, there have been an average of about 1,450 LGBT hate crimes per year.

Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum, said:
“Homophobia has fueled carnage since Matthew Shepard's murder 11 years ago. The Matthew Shepard Amendment is the beginning, not the end, in recognizing, addressing and eliminating homophobia in our schools, neighborhoods and culture.”

For more about the Equality Forum information view:
www.equalityforum.com