In each of our lives, we experience moments of shock that we will never forget. When Kennedy was shot in 1963. When the Challenger exploded over Florida in 1986.

For me, it was when 21 year-old Matthew Shepard was brutally beaten, tied to a fence, and left for dead on a cold October night in 1998. Matt was killed because he was gay. It sent chills of terror through the gay and lesbian community because the message was clear: you're next.

Matt's murder sparked a national movement to amend the federal hate crimes law to include crimes motivated by sexual orientation, gender, or disability.

After ten years, that change in law is finally in sight. Tonight, the U.S. Senate will vote on the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Both Senator Mark Udall and Senator Michael Bennet are cosponsors of this bill. The House version of the bill passed earlier this year with the support of six Colorado Representatives, and President Obama has committed to signing it.

Will you sign our virtual thank-you card to the members of the Colorado delegation who support this important law?

http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/HateCrimesThanks

Angie Zapata was an 18 year-old transgender woman from Greeley who had just moved into her first apartment on her own. She was murdered--in her killer's own words--because "all gay things need to die."

Colorado has a state hate crimes law that protects transgender people. Angie's murderer will spend the rest of his life in prison. But transgender people in most other states don't have the same confidence that justice for hate crimes will be served. Please thank those members of our Congressional delegation who stated boldly that the life of a gay, lesbian, or transgender person has just as much value as a straight person's life.

15 year-old Sakia Gunn was a an African American girl from New Jersey who was stabbed to death while waiting for the bus on Mother's Day because she was a lesbian. Her killer was eventually caught and pleaded guilty, but not without significant pressure on the police to act.

Not any more, if this bill passes. This bill will provide federal money to local law enforcement agencies to assist in these difficult cases. And if a homophobic local prosecutor fails to act, the feds will be able to step in to ensure justice is served.

Please send our congressmen and women your thanks by signing our thank-you card. We'll deliver a big card to each of them with everybody's name printed on it.

Thanks for all of your hard work.