need to know that their government will protect them from violence , and provide appropriate justice for victims and their families . '' Several religious groups have expressed concern that a hate-crimes law could be used to criminalize conservative speech relating to subjects such as abortion or homosexuality . Attorney General Eric Holder has asserted that any federal hate-crimes law would be used only to prosecute violent acts based on bias , as opposed to the prosecution of speech based on controversial racial or religious beliefs . Holder called Thursday 's 68-29 Senate vote to approve the defense spending bill that included the hate crimes measure `` a milestone in helping protect Americans from the most heinous bias-motivated violence . '' Watch survivor of attack discuss legislation '' `` The passage of this legislation will give the Justice Department and our state and local law enforcement partners the tools we need to deter and prosecute these acts of violence , '' he said in a statement . Joe Solmonese , president of the Human Rights Campaign , called the measure `` our nation 's first major piece of civil rights legislation for lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender people
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Senate passed groundbreaking legislation Thursday that would make it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity . President Obama has said the country must make significant changes to ensure equal rights . The expanded federal hate crimes law now goes to President Obama 's desk . Obama has pledged to sign the measure , which was added to a $ 680 billion defense authorization bill . President George W. Bush had threatened to veto a similar measure . The bill is named for Matthew Shepard , a gay Wyoming teenager who died after being kidnapped and severely beaten in October 1998 , and James Byrd Jr. , an African-American man dragged to death in Texas the same year . `` Knowing that the president will sign it , unlike his predecessor , has made all the hard work this year to pass it worthwhile , '' said Judy Shepard , board president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation named for her son . `` Hate crimes continue to affect far too many Americans who are simply trying to live their lives honestly , and they