Please explain how they ARE covered

And whilst you're at it, explain why we need special legislation for homosexuals in the first place

Anyone who is assaulted should be treated equally, and the perpetrators punished with equanimity

Your own post proves that heterosexuality is covered.

A substantial majority of the American public favors the expansion of federal hate crime legislation to include crimes against people based on their gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed such legislation, which is now being considered by the Senate. Republicans, conservatives, and religious Americans are slightly less likely than others to favor the expansion of hate crime legislation, but a majority of those in each of these conservative and religious groups favors the proposed legislation.
Public Favors Expansion of Hate Crime Law to Include Sexual Orientation


I am perpetually amused by how you ask a question, where you have no clue of the answer based on your own ignorance, and you think you're proving something.

Existing federal hate crime legislation does not cover sexual orientation.
A majority of U.S. citizens want it to.

There is no "suddenly" about it. The American people have overwhelmingly approved of this addition for a long time now.
It's just that now the DEMOCRATS are back in Congress with some power, and they're responding to the wishes of the American public.

The bill would cover old ladies in wheelchairs,(Disabled persons would be covered under the new legislation.) it's not just sexual orientation that this bill is aimed at covering.

And you are right about the Democrats, look what happened when they tried to send Bush a spending bill that included timetables for Iraq. This is the weakest majority I have ever seen. Americans are against the war, against illegal immigration, and obviously are for what the new hate crime bill would do. Public Favors Expansion of Hate Crime Law to Include Sexual Orientation

But the Democrats, rather than trying to stop funding all together or even hold their ground with their timetables, gave into Bush's demands. They apparently made some compromise with Bush on immigration and gave us a bill which would essentially grant amnesty to 12 million illegal immigrants, a bill that most Americans despised. Fortunately the legislation was killed. Immigration Bill Suffers Stunning Defeat
(Get this, they're going to try again!)
Senate leaders revive immigration bill - Yahoo! News

The new hate crime bill did pass in the House 237-180, but that would not be enough to override a possible veto, and I really don't think the Democrats will try very hard to get more votes. Not saying they can't, they have more support for the hate crime bill than they did for the timetables for Iraq, just speculating a possible outcome based on past performance.
House Passes Expanded Hate Crime Bill - Newsday.com

What the hell you talking about? 50% of heterosexual marriages fall out? Why is this a trip? Who cares Do what you have to do! As Our Nation falls apart behind republican rule~!

What the hell are you talking about, what part of my post do you disagree with?

My gawd you're thick.
I didn't use "amusement" as an excuse to not answer your question.
I DID answer your question.
You even responded to my answer.

Go ahead and repeat your question.
I'll repeat my answer.

Existing federal hate crime legislation does not cover sexual orientation.
A majority of U.S. citizens want it to.

There is no "suddenly" about it. The American people have overwhelmingly approved of this addition for a long time now.
It's just that now the DEMOCRATS are back in Congress with some power, and they're responding to the wishes of the American public.


Because the majority wish it so and there is no constitutional reason for them not to get their wish.
I have already explained THAT to you as well. Are you really this thick as to not remember things you are told?


The majority has not expressed a desire for them to be covered.


MAN are you slow.
Yes. There is a possibility, or a probability I think, that the Democrats will not be able to get this made into legislation.
BUT REPUBLICANS will have to go on record for either supporting or opposing it. And the MAJORITY who ELECT these people can take note.
And the president can veto, but then it can also be brought up as a presidential debate question because it is in the lime-light again. And the public will note THOSE responses as well.

And the thing stopping it from being law is a few republicans who OPPOSE the majority wishes. That won't always be the case...

The original “hate crime” law was applicable only if the victim was engaged certain federally-protected activities – such as voting or going to school – at the time the crime was committed.


That makes sense to me, to have federal protection against crimes aimed particularly at attacking/terrorizing somebody when they are trying to engage in a federally-protected activity. You can see in that the true spirit of the law as intended, to keep bigots from trying to terrorize minorities out of voting, going to school, and so forth.


In that sense, I have no problem with sexual orientation being included. If some jackass wants to attack a gay person in an attempt to make gays fearful of voting – sure, that would qualify as a federal offense, IMO.


But to try to define any crime anywhere as a “hate crime” based on the status of the victim is, IMO, just silly.


It’s also not needed. That’s why we allow prosecutors and defense attorneys to argue the aggravating and mitigating circumstances that are unique to each crime.


No special federal legislation is needed for that.