DENVER (AP) -- Colorado's House delegation voted along party lines as the chamber voted to expand a hate crimes law to include sexual orientation.
The measure was part of a larger defense spending authorization bill. All five Colorado Democrats voted for the bill Thursday, with the two Republicans opposing it. The bill passed 281-146 and is headed to the Senate.
The bill makes it a federal crime to assault people because of their sexual orientation. It's attached to a $680 billion defense policy bill, so its passage is likely.
Democratic Rep. Jared Polis of Boulder is the first openly gay man elected to Congress as a non-incumbent, and he spoke in favor of the bill. He said he supported it even though he opposes continuing the war in Afghanistan.
On the Net: See the vote: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll770.xml
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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