ProgressOhio

Every morning, someone you know takes the long way to class. Someone you care about looks over his shoulder on the street. Someone you love fears for her safety.

All because people hate them for being who they are.

We're closer than ever to passing a federal hate crimes law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity. But right now, your lawmakers are being barraged with calls and emails from anti-gay groups. It's horrifying that they'd pick this of all issues to be against—but it's happening.

The House has already introduced its hate crimes bill. We're holding a press conference onTHURSDAY, the day the Senate introduces its identical bill, to announce all the support behind us. We need your voice, even if you've already sent a message on this issue.

Click here to send your letter to Congress before Thursday's press conference.

And once you take action, please forward this message along. We need more support!Our country desperately needs a federal hate crimes law that protects all people from bias-motivated violence. Every day, dozens of people are targets of violent attacks simply because of who they are, while the federal government is powerless to help.

Over the coming weeks, we have a chance to change that.

We'll be sending tens of thousands of letters and calls to legislators, bringing clergy to Capitol Hill to meet with their Senators and Representatives, telling the stories of innocent people attacked or killed by hate violence, and putting a media spotlight on this issue. 

We're not going to miss this opportunity.Time is tight. But, with a fair-minded majority in Congress, the time is right.