Exodus International - Alan Chambers Denounces House Judiciary Committee’s “Hate Crimes” Vote

Orlando, FL- Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International, the world’s largest outreach to those dealing with unwanted same-sex attraction, criticized Wednesday’s House Judiciary Committee vote to send “The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act” to the full House for consideration. The committee voted 20-14 to pass H.R. 1592.

“Today we are unfortunately one step closer to establishing unequal justice under the law in America,” said Chambers. “This legislation says that we, as former homosexuals, are of less value and worth less legal protection now than when we were living as homosexuals. We categorically reject this mindset and reaffirm every American’s value and right to equal protection under the law.”

H.R. 1592 and its companion bill in the Senate, S. 1105, will create victim-ranking and provide special legal protection based on “sexual orientation,” “gender identity” and other “actual or perceived” classes of victims. By mandating thought prosecution, this legislation will jeopardize constitutionally protected freedoms of speech and religious expression. As recently released FBI statistics prove, H.R. 1592 is unnecessary as bias-motivated crimes are on the decrease and represent a miniscule portion of violent crimes in the United States.

“We call upon Congress to support the prosecution of criminals to the full extent of the law regardless of their victim’s chosen behavior or inherent characteristics rather than advocating unjust legislation that threatens the religious freedoms of all Americans,” said Chambers.