James Byrd Hate Crimes Act

 

Every day across Texas individuals are discriminated against as a result of their race, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity. After the passage of the James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act, these offenses were given harsher punishment if the prosecution is able to prove without a doubt that the offense was indeed committed as a result of one of these biases or prejudices. However, since the passage of the James Byrd Hate Crimes Act, a very small number of hate crime cases have been brought up in court, while a large number have taken place. Furthermore, the bill does not provide equal punishment for crimes motivated by an individual's gender identity/expression, and certain key provisions of the bill have not been respected or enforced.