Bill would broaden hate crime law to gay, disabled people

Intimidation of gay, disabled people would be included By CHRIS CHRISTOFF • FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU • July 23, 2008 LANSING – Michigan’s hate crime law would expand to include intimidation of gays and lesbians and people with disabilities, and would make hanging a noose or burning a cross on someone else’s property specific crimes, under changes urged by civil rights groups today. Those changes will be put on a fast track in the House next month, said Rep. Paul Condino, D-Southfield, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He said he would introduce a bill today to strengthen the state’s ethnic intimidation law. Condino said the hate crime law changes will be debated during the Legislature’s lame-duck session this fall. He said the proposed changes would toughen Michigan’s hate crime law and bring it in line with those... [read full story]