The following are sample letters you can use in your own correspondence. Feel free to copy as needed and send to everyone you can think of. The greater the number of people and communities taking a stand against hate, the greater our chances become of saving even one more life.
Available Letters
Hate Crimes Prevention Act Letter
To Whom It May Concern:
Time and again, people in the U.S., and around the world, have been deeply affected by the tragic and brutal deaths brough about by hatred and intolerance. From James Byrd of Texas, to Matthew Shepard in Wyoming, to Billy Jack Gaither in Alabama, inhuman killings have brought about waves of outrage and sympathy from all quarters.
The evil that claimed these men has NOT left us. It is still among us, biding its time, waiting to strike again. It is the evil of hate, and it festers until someone acts out its violence. Its twisted message is still being shouted, lodging in the minds of those who heed its call, dehumanizing those who could become its next victims. To deafen or blind ourselves to that stark reality is to grant hate a free reign - and to let it devastate more lives.
And, yet, one life is too high a price to pay.
Perhaps, for some, it is easy to put distance between oneself and the horror and violence of hate. It might be easy to think of this as someone else's problem; something that happens only in other places. These are false perceptions, and they breed a very dangerous complacency. We must not allow this way of thinking to continue!
The violent tragedy that marred communities in Texas, Wyoming and Alabama could just as easily have happened here, in our own community. Hate and bigotry are everywhere and have no regard for geographical boundaries. Those who see validity in the ways of hate can be found anywhere. Anywhere! Even in our own community. It takes only one or two individuals to bring about the senseless violence that devastates lives and scars communities.
We, as a community, must send forth a loud and clear message. We must, as a community, take a firm stand. To those who cannot move beyond hate and bigotry, we must let them know that hate has no place in our community. It is up to our community - and every other community across the nation and around the world - to stand up against hate and say "Not Here!"
It does not take demonstrations or angry tirades to send that message. It requires firmness and a willingness to adhere to convictions that hate does not belong in our community. It requires all of us - churches, elected officials, community leaders, and everyday citizens - to stand up and show resistance to hate. All of us, as a community, can show those that hate we will not allow the destructive evil of hate to devastate the lives of our friends and neighbors or scar our community.
So, let us send forth that message. Each community that takes this stand, although separated by physical distance, will be united in the spirit of the stand. Together, we can let them know hate is not welcome anywhere.
Senator or Honorable ________________________
I am writing to you to encourage you to pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. As you know, in recent months, there have been several brutal attacks against gay men in this country, most notably the slayings of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming and Billy Jack Gaither in Alabama. In fact, only 21 states and the District of Columbia include sexual orientation-based crimes in their hate crimes statutes.
Statistics have shown that sexual orientation is the third-leading reason for bias-related crimes in the United States. A message must be sent to the American public that hate and violence are not acceptable practices or values in America. Would-be perpetrators of bias-related crimes against homosexuals must be made aware that such crimes will carry stiff penalties. You, as an elected official, can do something to send that message to the American people. With hate crimes on the rise against gays and lesbians - while the overall crime rate has decreased - it is imperative that Congress stand up to hate and violence by passing the Hate Crimes Act now.
Sincerely,
Address:
