The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, enacted in 2009, expands the federal hate crime laws in the United States. It provides federal protection against crimes motivated by a person's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, in addition to existing protections based on race, color, religion, or national origin. The law allows federal authorities to investigate and prosecute hate crimes more effectively and encourages states to address such crimes. It is named after Matthew Shepard, a gay man murdered in 1998, and James Byrd, Jr., an African American man killed in a racially motivated attack.