Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009

President Obama signs the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 and creates a new federal law that criminalizes willfully causing or attempting to cause bodily injury because of the perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person.