In 1998 two men tortured and murdered Matthew Shepard because he was gay.

His assailants tied him to a split-rail fence, beat him, and left him to die for his sexual orientation. He was found by a passing cyclist 18-hours later. However, his wounds were too severe and Matthew passed away a few days later.

In response to this vicious and senseless death, Matthew's parents, his friends, and compassionate people around the country and world began to mobilize to ensure that heinous hate crimes like this were fully prosecuted and those responsible received a punishment equal to the crime.

From that effort grew a movement to pass a federal hate crimes bill that would make it a federal offense to assault someone because of their sexual orientation. That bill, H.R. 1913, was on the floor of the U.S. House yesterday and was passed.

That's the good news.

However, while debating the bill on the floor Rep. Virginia Foxx (R) stepped over all lines of common decency and said that calling Matthew Shepard's brutal murder a hate crime was a "hoax."

Click here to sign the petition to hold Virginia Foxx accountable.

Matthew Shepard's mother was sitting and listening in the House Gallery as Virginia Foxx embarrassed herself and our state with her outrageous statements.

You can watch the video of Rep. Foxx's speech here.

We ought to let Rep. Foxx know that this cruel political attack is unacceptable.

Contact Congresswoman Virginia Foxx's Washington Office at (202) 225-2071.

After calling Virginia Foxx please sign the petition.