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CONCORD, NH - New legislation in New Hampshire strengthens the state's civil rights act by requiring the attorney general to enforce all civil rights violations.
The law, signed by Governor Jeanne Shaheen last month, protects people who are subject to actual or threatened physical force or violence because of their race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, or disability.
"This is a great day for all the people of New Hampshire who live in fear of society because they are different," said Senator Rick Trombly, one of the bill's main sponsors. "It is about time that gays and lesbians have legal recourse against hate crimes that are motivated by homophobic and ignorant people."
Penalties established for civil rights violations include fines up to $5,000 per violation, restitution to victims, and court-issued injunctions for future protection of victims. The new law also allows restraining orders to be issued in the case of civil rights violations and establishes a criminal penalty of a class A misdemeanor for violating the order.
"This is a tremendous step forward for the gay and lesbian community," said Trombly. "Allowing gays and lesbians to get restraining orders against anyone who personally threatens them or threatens damage to their personal property because they are gay sends a clear message that New Hampshire will not tolerate hate and violence."
