GiaQuinta: House GOP continues to run from inclusive hate crimes bill, but they cannot hide

Indiana House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta from Fort Wayne issued the following statement after Indiana House Republicans evaded another attempt from House Democrats to craft a hate crimes law that protects all Hoosiers:

“During this legislative session, House Democrats have introduced four hate crimes bills and made five attempts to insert a comprehensive list of protections to existing legislation that would include gender, gender identity, age, and ancestry. House Republicans let those bills die in committee and have avoided adding any of the amendments introduced by our caucus to existing legislation that would protect all Hoosiers, including women and those who are transgender, from hate crimes. Instead, House Republicans chose to move their own proposal behind closed doors and avoid any kind of meaningful public debate on this issue.

“Our message to House Republicans is simple: you can run but you cannot hide from your responsibility to protect all Hoosiers. House Democrats will not stop until there is hate crimes legislation that protects everyone. If Governor Holcomb really believes that there is more work to be done, we call on him to prove it by refusing to sign hate crimes legislation into law without a list of protections for all Hoosiers.”