Puerto Rico Lawmakers Seek to Remove LGBTs from Hate Crimes Law

Typical Catholics.

If they want to remove LGBT people from hate crime laws then lets remove Puerto Rico from the common wealth status and stop sending them the millions in U.S. tax dollars they receive each year. Maybe China or some other communist country would like to pull them under their wing.

Word, Jalene! WORD !!

And PR will be a place to avoid like the plague IF it does remove these laws!

We have the federal hate crime law right? They can't get rid of that.

Jalene in the wild wrote:

If they want to remove LGBT people from hate crime laws then lets remove Puerto Rico from the common wealth status and stop sending them the millions in U.S. tax dollars they receive each year. Maybe China or some other communist country would like to pull them under their wing.

Good idea. I agree. I see no reason at all for Puerto Rico to be part of the U.S.

Let them become an independent country, or join some other country. we dont need em. They're ust a drain on the taxpayers.

They are also removing ethnicity and religious beliefs. Odd move.

equalityboy81 wrote:

We have the federal hate crime law right? They can't get rid of that.

Are they subject to that law? One would think not from the notion of revising their penal code.

The only reason they could possibly have for removing the law is that it's working.

Prosperity Gospull wrote:

<quoted text>
Are they subject to that law? One would think not from the notion of revising their penal code.

According to something I just read, Puerto Rico is subject to Federal laws but only a portion of the US Constitution. Puerto Ricans are US citizens. Certain Federal rights and privileges are not extended to Puerto Rico but are available to any Puerto Ricans living within the states. I do not know whether the Federal hate crimes law applies to Puerto Rico or not. An example of Federal law not applying to a US territory is that federal labor laws do not apply in the Northern Marianas. Clothing made in the Northern Marianas carry the "made in US" label since they are a US territory and the islanders are US natives (not citizens). However, because they are not subject to Federal labor laws, a lot of the clothing is made in sweat shops using child labor. US territories come under the control of Congress and it's up to Congress which Federal laws apply in which territories.

Disgusted American wrote:

And PR will be a place to avoid like the plague IF it does remove these laws!

It's already a good place to avoid.

A few years ago there was a plebescite in Puerto Rico with 3 choices:

A. Become an independent country.

B. Become a state of the U.S.

C. Maintain the status quo.

The peopel voted largely for the last choice so tings remain the same.

Personally, I wish they'd become independent.

If they remove LGBT what is left?

Shouldn't this be inconsequential because of The James Byrd and Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act? I am not sure how Federal Law works when the area that decides to repeal happens to be a territory and not a state. Anyone know?

Wow. I didn't realize how much som of Puerto Rico's politicians are leaning toward the right.

They have to move on from this.

This will not help them in the election's.

Josh in New Orleans wrote:

Shouldn't this be inconsequential because of The James Byrd and Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act? I am not sure how Federal Law works when the area that decides to repeal happens to be a territory and not a state. Anyone know?

Congress decides what Federal laws apply in what territory.

hoodathunkit wrote:

<quoted text>
According to something I just read, Puerto Rico is subject to Federal laws but only a portion of the US Constitution. Puerto Ricans are US citizens. Certain Federal rights and privileges are not extended to Puerto Rico but are available to any Puerto Ricans living within the states. I do not know whether the Federal hate crimes law applies to Puerto Rico or not. An example of Federal law not applying to a US territory is that federal labor laws do not apply in the Northern Marianas. Clothing made in the Northern Marianas carry the "made in US" label since they are a US territory and the islanders are US natives (not citizens). However, because they are not subject to Federal labor laws, a lot of the clothing is made in sweat shops using child labor. US territories come under the control of Congress and it's up to Congress which Federal laws apply in which territories.

I'm trying to figure out what's the reasoning behind the sudden repeal of the law protecting LGBTs, women, and immigrants against violent hate crimes. All I can find are public statements made by senior PNP members of the general assembly (Liza Fernández, Jenniffer González) questioning the wisdom of fellow party senators in pushing this legislative measure. At first glance this looks f'kn ridiculous and regressive; and I can't help but to speculate that this 'proposed' legislation is nothing but another Machiavellian mechanization from the cardinal and island evangelicals. But for now I'll reserve judgment.

"I do not know whether the Federal hate crimes law applies to Puerto Rico or not."
Yes. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, gives the federal government subject-matter jurisdiction and authority to assist "States" and local governments in investigating and prosecuting violent hate crimes, including violence directed at the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. It also gives the justices department the authority to independently investigate and prosecute violent hate crimes when state and local governments can't or won't prosecute hate crimes covered by the code.

For purposes of 18 U.S.C. ch 13,§249 (a)(2)(A)(2009), the term "State" includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

Dionicio wrote:

Wow. I didn't realize how much som of Puerto Rico's politicians are leaning toward the right.
They have to move on from this.
This will not help them in the election's.

It's disgusting! That's all I can say.

The "New Progressive Party" (PNP) is now turning the clock in an attempt to imitate the retards from Georgia, North Carolina and Arizona on frontal attack against hate crime legislation.

whitefalcon1678 wrote:

They are also removing ethnicity and religious beliefs. Odd move.

If this is true in addition to ditching glbt protections - speaking in terms of what they intend, and recognizing that some posters claim they can't actually - then it's more of that "libertarian" line on hate crimes than it is explicitly or only homophobic.

There would still be things like veteran's status and disability as far as federal law goes.

Neither the reporting nor the right wing politicians in P.R. seem exactly clear on the issues.

Good idea! Gays deserve hate!

Just joking! But they have really gone too far. Gays seem blithely unaware how normal people view them and how appalled they are at much of the behavior that gays seem to think is perfectly normal.

It reminds me of Brüno of the namesake film. Though Sacha Baron Cohen might have stereotyped gay behavior, he was spot on about one thing that characterizes so many gays. They are completely clueless about how normal people are appalled and disgusted by their behavior.