From CBS News:
Boehner's position, then, appears to be grounded in the notion that immutable characteristics should be protected under hate crimes laws. And while religion is an immutable characteristic, his office suggests, sexual orientation is not.
Northeastern University professor Jack Levin, who co-authored the first book written about hate crimes, told Hotsheet that "to use immutability as a criterion doesn't make any sense at all."
"Especially if he supports the current stand," Levin continued. "Religion is clearly not ascribed. It's not built into the organism. People can change it at any time and people do."
"It sounds to me as though the criticism is focused on the addition of gays and lesbians to the list of protected categories at the federal level," he said. "That seems to be the problem."
It's incredible how pieces of trash like this justify their prejudices in legal terms. What Boehner is essentially saying in the "immutable characteristics" portion of the existing hate crimes bill is that it's not your choice that you're Catholic or Jewish or a Scientologist - but being gay IS your choice and, therefore, cannot qualify as a legitimate addition under "gender" in the new bill.
Wouldn't it be more refreshing if someone like Boehner just said out loud what he seems to infer with every ugly breath:
"I don't want to give gays any more rights under the law because I don't like gays."
"I won't approve anything more having to do with equal rights because I hate blacks, latinos, indians, arabs, asians and lithuanians (well, maybe lithuanians have my vote)!"
"I want nothing more to do with legislation helping woman gain equal status here because I am superior to women."
Sure, he'll never actually SAY these things, but it's clear to anyone who's watched him that he hides his prejudices under the cloak of legislative democracy, like many of the Republicans.
It's sad in this day and age that neanderthals like this have a platform and power. They will be an embarrassment decades from now when our kids and grandkids pick up their history books (or, being that its decades from now, hovering display screens).