Olympia parents watch Obama sign federal hate-crimes bill

Hate Crimes: Olympia parents watch Obama sign bill that expands protection to include sexual orientation

BRAD SHANNON; The Olympian | • Published October 29, 2009

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The parents of Bill Clayton, the Olympia teen who took his life in May 1995 after being assaulted over his sexual orientation, were in Washington, D.C., to mark President Barack Obama's signing of a federal hate-crimes law Wednesday.

The bill expands laws to include crimes based on sexual orientation.

“Hate doesn’t grow in a vacuum. It grows in silence. The bill is this country saying we will not be silent. We are going to stop this,” mother Gabi Clayton said by telephone as she waited for a cab to take her to the White House reception.

She and her husband, Alec, both were at the event. Alec Clayton is the president of the Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, or PFLAG, Olympia chapter. He is also a theater critic for The Olympian.

Bill Clayton, who was bisexual, killed himself after he and two friends were assaulted; the youths had organized an event at their high school at which a lesbian military officer spoke.

Obama signed the hate-crimes bill earlier in the day as part of a $680 billion national defense-spending bill.

“Hate crimes are going to be prosecuted at the federal level. That is so important because so many people lose hope and live in fear, and are beaten up, assaulted and murdered. ... It’s more than a symbol. It is an act that is changing things for the whole country,” Gabi Clayton said.

She said U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, his staff and Seattle filmmaker Liz Latham, who created a documentary about the murder of a Texas man, helped arrange their attendance. Gabi Clayton is affiliated with the Safe Schools Coalition and is a co-founder of Families United Against Hate.

Brad Shannon: 360-753-1688

bshannon@theolympian.com

www.theolympian.com/politicsblog