GiaQuinta: House Republicans bypass hate crime debate & leave gender out of comprehensive list of characteristics

Indiana House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta from Fort Wayne issued the following statement on Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 198:

“Our caucus has been clear from the beginning: we want comprehensive hate crimes legislation that protects all Hoosiers. That is not what House Republicans proposed here today. Instead, House Republicans discussed legislation behind closed doors that bypassed the committee and public hearing process and failed to include gender as part of their list of protected characteristics. As a majority women caucus, we refused to support a proposal that failed to protect more than half of Indiana’s population: women. We stand ready to work with House Republicans to pass a hate crimes bill this session that protects all Hoosiers. The ball remains in their court.”