In a step that may hopefully lead to an avalanche of gay rights legislation getting through Congress, the Senate voted to approve an extension of hate crime legislation to the LGBT community that had been sitting in committee for ten whole years.

From the Associated Press:

Passage of the bill would effect the most significant extension of hate crimes law since Congress first acted in 1968 after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

The 1968 law defines hate crimes as those carried out on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin. It also limits federal involvement to when the victim is engaged in a narrow range of activities, including attending a public school, serving as a juror or participating in an event administered by a state or local government.

The proposed legislation expands federal hate crimes to include those perpetrated against people because of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It also removes restrictions on federally protected activities.

A major, major victory for the future of the gay rights movement and the calls for national equality.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Grundlepuck.