Denver - On the same day that a bill proposing to revise and strengthen Colorado's Ethnic Intimidation Act to include the categories of sexual orientation and gender identity passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, vandals sprayed anti-gay graffiti on the walls of Columbine United Church in Littleton.

Statewide community organizations including the Colorado Anti-Violence Program, Equal Rights Colorado, and The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, along with sponsors of the Bias-Motivated Crime bill Penfield Tate (D-Denver) and Mark Larson (R-Cortez) today responded to this most recent incident of bias-motivated violence, emphasizing the inconsistencies and inequalities under current Colorado law and the lack of understanding about the impact of hate crimes on the safety of our communities.

"If this had been a mosque or a synagogue or any church that was vandalized because of anti-religious bias, the perpetrators could be charged with ethnic intimidation," explained Representative Mark Larson. "Just like ethnic intimidation, the motive in this case was to create fear and intimidation within a specific community. Yet because the bias was based on sexual orientation instead of religion, current law doesn't apply."

According to Senator Penfield Tate, who has carried the bill for seven years, "This is a perfect example of why I keep sponsoring this bill year after year. Bias-motivated crimes are real, and our citizens are continually victimized. We have a responsibility to work toward a safer society, and that's the intent of this legislation."

"It is clear that people don't understand that serious and deadly violence escalates from acts such as vandalism, and that these crimes affect the safety of everyone in the community, not only the people or groups that are targeted," said Denise de Percin, Executive Director of the Colorado Anti-Violence Program. "Crimes such as harassment, threats, intimidation and assault against the LGBT community happen every day, but only occasionally does violence targeted against us actually receive attention."

Representatives of Equal Rights Colorado said the incident highlights the need for passage of hate crime legislation presently pending at the Colorado legislature. "This was not just an attack on a building, but it was designed to target and intimidate a community," said ERC spokesperson Julie Tolleson. "That's why hate crimes are a category all their own, and should be punished as such."

Senate Bill 9 (SB02-009) would expand the current Ethnic Intimidation Act, passed in 1988, to include the additional categories of age, disability, gender identity and sexual orientation to the existing categories of race, color, ancestry, religion and national origin. The renamed Bias-Motivated Crime Act would also direct judges to consider sentencing options such as community service and restorative justice, and puts in place mechanisms for training and education of law enforcement officers.

"The bill proposes adding better protections for some of Colorado's most vulnerable citizens," Tolleson said.

The fact that the vandalism and destruction took place within a church has heightened the emotional and psychological impact for many people in the community.

"The wrecking of sacred property is secondary to the desecration of the sacred spirit of the congregation and the gay and lesbian community, which apparently was the focus of this vicious act," emphasized Rev. Bill Kirton, President of The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado and Pastor of Cameron United Methodist Church in Denver. He continued, "In a place where all persons, regardless of life circumstance and situation, should be able to find sanctuary, those who seek to terrorize and undermine all forms of safety and human community have spoken and done their deed."

"Legislation is one tool to create safer communities, but we also need to take individual responsibility," said de Percin. "As a society we need to think about what we teach our children and how we treat people every day. Safety and justice should mean the same thing for every person in every community. Right now in Colorado that is not the case."